Shoura members and intellectuals have called for greater interaction between the 150-strong consultative council and the general public to strengthen the body to play a vital role, rising up to citizens’ expectations.

“We should take the criticisms from Saudi men and women against the Shoura positively. It means they have big expectations from the Shoura in order to solve their problems and address their grievances,” said Thuraya Al-Arayed, one of the 30 female Shoura members.

Al-Arayed said women members have been playing an equally important role in the Shoura like their male counterparts. “We take up important issues concerning women and society. We were successful in removing the restrictions to get real estate loans for women,” she pointed out.

She called upon citizens to present their views and proposals on various issues being discussed by the Shoura. “I have personally told the Shoura to open its accounts on social media to answer queries of citizens, receive their proposals and promote interaction with the public.”

Saeed Al-Suraihy, a Saudi columnist, said he wanted the Shoura to telecast live its discussions on ministries and government departments to remove suspicions among the public that the Shoura members do not criticize these government agencies for their poor performance.

Al-Suraihy praised female Shoura members Khawla Al-Kuraya and Salwa Al-Hazza for strongly criticizing King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital during a debate on the hospital’s annual report. Al-Kuraya had told the hospital officials that citizens’ health is the red line nobody should cross.

Haleema Muzaffar, a Saudi writer, said the majority of female Shoura members were inactive. “I don’t see them making an impact. But I would wait until they complete the term before criticizing them. I want them to do something great that would make everybody happy.”

Aziza Al-Manie, also a writer, wants the Shoura to adopt effective decisions on major issues facing citizens, instead of just holding discussions on them. “Men have been present in the Shoura before men but they have not done anything outstanding throughout these years,” she pointed out.

Noura Al-Asheikh, a sociologist, said women members of the Shoura are highly qualified and capable of giving their views on any important issue. “The Shoura president himself has commended the contributions of women members since they were appointed in 2013,” she added.