Hammad suggested appointing some Saudi women as a preliminary alternative

By, Abdul Raheem Ali, IOL Correspondent

CAIRO, August 31 (IslamOnline.net) – Saudi women face a range of administrative obstacles on their way to run for, or even vote in, municipal elections slated for November, in what is regarded as the first concrete political reform in the kingdom.

Saudi reformists said the expected absence of Saudi women in the elections was not due to a political decision, but rather attributed to complications related to the customs and traditions in the kingdom.

They, however, hailed the decision to hold elections in the kingdom as a first step toward introducing real political reforms.

Saudi Arabia has lately seen numerous steps towards reform, including convention of conferences to talk about reform.

The kingdom's third National Dialogue Forum wrapped up on June 14, three days of brainstorming with a call for granting Saudi women their rights guaranteed by Islamic Shari`ah.

Administrative Problems

Dr. Khalid Al-Ojeimi, who participated in the first round of the national dialogue in June, 2003, highlighted the decision to hold municipal elections in the kingdom, saying it was the result of a long struggle of Saudi reformists.

"This decision was the result of a long struggle of the Saudi reformists over the past two decades."

He said the municipal councils are very important as they emphasize the needs of ordinary people.

"This kind of councils is primarily concerned with the issues of development, consequently, their results are rapidly felt, leading to enhance democracy in Saudi Arabia."

Ojeimi cited administrative and social problems that hinder women from running for the elections.

"In principle, there is no official decision that bars women from running for the elections or casting their ballots, however, there are many administrative and social problems that block such a goal."

"Foremost among these problems are the fact that most Saudi women have no identity cards and that females, except businesswomen, lack independent personality on how to handle the political, social or legal issues as the father or the husband is usually responsible for the female."

Ojeimi cited unsuitable social conditions in the kingdom that bar women from running for elections, urging to provide Saudi women with other methods to vote for the candidates in the first stage of the elections till the conditions become favorable.

Matter of Time

For her part, Amgaad Rida, a Saudi writer, said that it is just a matter of time for Saudi women to enjoy their political, social and economic rights.

"Women did not use to give opinion on the laws issued by the Shura council, but the council has taken a decision four years ago on seeking women opinion on female laws such as high dowry, late marriage and early retirement."

"The council has sought woman opinions at three occasions this year, which is considered as a very important development but the real achievement would be mostly remarkable once women become members of these councils. This step is considered a constructive development," she said.

She further considered Saudi women to be gaining more grounds in the Saudi society.

"Women did not participate in the first round of the national dialogue, but in the second round, they took part in a small number and in the third round, women represented half of the participants in the discussions."

Amgaad admitted administrative, social and cultural complications in the kingdom do hinder women participation in the political life, voicing hope such problems would be solved if they were wisely handled.

Law Enforcement

Soheila Hammad, a Saudi writer, on her part, urged the enforcement of the by-law items on woman participation in the municipal elections.

She said the by-law speaks that every citizen has the right to run for the municipal elections.

"Are women not Saudi citizens?", she charged.

She further suggested to give Saudi women the right to vote in the elections as a preliminary step and to appoint some Saudi women in the elected councils.

"Those women would be representatives through which we can examine the woman performance in the municipal councils."

The municipal elections will be held in the capital Riyadh after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in mid-November.

The second stage will take place in the east and south before the annual Hajj, which begins in January, with the rest of the country to cast ballots after that.