For the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia, women can
begin registering to vote this week.
According to
local media, women will be able to vote and run in elections held in December
of this year, marking a step forward for proponents of women's rights in a
country that has received heavy criticism for its treatment of women.
"This is
something new to women," an unidentified woman told al Ekhbariya, Saudi
state television. "I am pretty sure women will have different opinions and
thoughts. I am very happy."
Official voter
registration begins August 22, and candidate registration begins on August 30,
according to a Saudi government website. Both days will mark firsts for women
in Saudi Arabia gearing up to participate in elections in December. Women will
only participate in elections at the municipal level.
The December
election will be the first opportunity for women to vote since a 2011 order by the now deceased King Abdullah that
granted women some opportunities for political participation. According to the State Department, Abdullah issued a royal
decree in 2013 mandating the Consultative Council, a royally appointed body
that advises the King, be at least 20% women.
Critics have
described the change as anywhere from modest to inconsequential.
"While it's
a sign of progress, allowing women to stand and vote in elections -- and then
only municipal elections -- is not enough to secure women's full integration
into Saudi public life," wrote Adam Coogle for Human Rights Watch.
Despite the
December elections, the country remains a monarchy ruled by the Saud family.
According to the State Department, municipal elections in Saudi Arabia filled
half the seats in municipal councils, with King Abdullah selecting the other
half of municipal officials.
Since the 1930s,
the official religion of the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia has been a strict
Salafi interpretation of Sunni Islam. Based on this interpretation of the
religion, Saudi Arabia employs an informally established guardianship system
over women.
The system does
not afford women many freedoms. Saudi women are not, for example, allowed to
drive or work. Nor can they travel or go to school without a male guardian.
In a video from
Saudi state television, women could be seen assisting with preparations for
voter registration.
Given Saudi
Arabia's record with women's rights, some see the partial extension of suffrage
to women as a sign that women will have an expanded role in Saudi civil
society.
"This is
just a small part of women's rights, participating in the municipal elections,
and possibly women can perform even better than men," another woman said
to al Ekhbariya.
Saudi Arabia's
move could also bring the country closer to one of its strongest allies, the
United States, which has condemned Saudi Arabia's treatment of women for years
in various reports. A constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote
in the United States was ratified 95
years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment