Two women win in Saudi election (BBC)

[Wordie]

This seems to be an unexpected and promising development...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4485308.stm


Two women win in Saudi election
Women candidates are business leaders in Jeddah

Two Saudi businesswomen have been elected in the kingdom's first ballot in which women were allowed to stand. Lama al-Suleiman and Nashwa Taher were among 12 successful candidates voted onto the board of Jeddah's chamber of commerce and industry.

...But the turnout was low among the female electorate, with only 100 women voting compared with about 4,000 men.

That means the women were elected with strong support from their male counterparts.

...King Abdullah has made the promotion of women in society a priority of Saudi Arabia's 2005-2009 development plan, but the authorities have emphasised it will have to be in line with what they see as the principles of Islam.

[lovuian]

1. You Go Girls!!!

Whoo Hoo!!!

[Wordie]

2. LOL, Louvian, somehow that was not the reaction I had expected!

But it's a good reaction! LOL

[PsychoDad]

3. "But women can't run for political office in Saudi Arabia!"

Or so we hear so often.
:)

Another myth blown away, not only can they run, but they can be elected with support from an "oppressive" male majority.

Congratulations to these two women, and here's looking forward to more. May this victory encourage other Saudi sisters to become more active politically, Insha Allah.

Peace.

[Wordie]

6. It is a huge step. I'm happy to see it too. eom

[JerseygirlCT]

4. Do drivers come with the job?

King Abdullah making promotion of women in society a priority is like saying Bush is making the promotion of peace and equality a priority.

Yeah, right. Believe that when I see it.

How about we start with drivers' licenses?

[EFerrari]

5. Hoop skirts would be an advance. At least you can get under

them in a sandstorm.

[Wordie]

7. They clearly have a long way to go. But this is a wonderful first step.

They should be applauded for making it, imho.

[JerseygirlCT]

10. It IS a good step

It's just hard to get too excited when they are so very far behind. I'm doing my best!

[wookie294]

8. Reich wingers will say the carnage in Iraq spread freedom to Saudi Arabia

Way to go Bush! Spreading freedom! LOL!

[Chovexani]

9. To invoke a bit of a cliche

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Kudos to these brave women, I wish them much success in office. :toast:

[anakie]

11. to a chamber of commerce board!!

when universal suffrage and free and fair elections are held maybe then will be a cause for celebration.

But this wont happen whilst bush's cronies in the Saudi royal family rule with an iron fist, because they know the result will be an even more radical theocracy; but this one will be anti-US.

Democracy on the march in the Middle East. What a crock.

[Wordie]

12. Nobody has ever gotten anywhere without that first small step...

I'm as cynical as the next person about some of the Bush propaganda, etc., and maybe even more so, but this does appear to be a very small but significant first step. It seems to me if it is a desirable thing for women to have additional rights in Saudi society, then this small step should be applauded, not ridiculed. No society changes dramatically overnight; we can't expect a sea change. This small step is a very good thing, imho.