Ever Female Councillor Elected In Saudi Arabia

This election was the first in which women could vote and run as candidates, and many have portrayed it as a progressive step toward democracy and gender equality. Several more, reported by al-Sabq online newspaper, were expected to be confirmed later.

“If we allow her to get out of her house and do such business, who’s going to take care of my sons?”

Women aren’t allowed to speak with men in public they’re not related to, meaning female candidates and male candidates can’t speak to each other.

The turnout, estimate to be about 25%, was low, as was registration.

A Saudi woman leaves a polling station after casting her vote in Riyadh, where men and women were segregated.

In Jouf, one woman was also announced as a victor, and Mona Al Omairi won in Tabook. “Honestly, we weren’t expecting anyone to win”, said Sahar Hassan Nasief, a women’s rights activist in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Saudi citizens require a ID card to vote, but it’s unclear how many woman have one according to Human Rights Watch.

Baha´s overall turnout for men and women combined was 51.5 percent, SPA said, without providing figures for other regions. The election, which follows men-only polls in 2005 and 2011, is for two thirds of seats on councils that previously had only advisory powers, but will now have a limited decision making role in local government.

Saudi activist Ghada Ghazzawi tapes a selfie video marking a historical day for Saudi women as she arrives to vote for the municipal elections. This meant candidates could not directly address voters of the opposite sex.

The monarch, who died in January, also ordered that 20% of members of the kingdom’s consultative Shura Council be women.

A second woman, Hanouf bint Mufrih bin Ayid al-Hazmi, won in the northwestern region of Jawf, SPA said, adding that in the kingdomÕs east, Sanna Abdel Latif Hamam and Maasooma Abdel Mohsen al-Rida were elected in Ihsa province.

Rasha Alturki said she cried as she cast her ballot. “Everyone wants to improve their living standards”.

Despite the new rights extended to women, critics have said restrictions made it hard on women who wanted to run for office and vote.

Saudi election officials close the gate at a polling center at the end for the country’s municipal elections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015.

Centre heads said they had received clear instructions to ease procedures to allow all voters, especially the older ones, to elect their municipal councilors. “I really do think it’s going to be a while before the women of the country really take advantage of this as much as they can”. Opposition among hardline clerics is still strong.

The United States on Sunday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s first ever election open to female voters and candidates, calling it a historic milestone. I’d like to see freedom in our lives – an elected parliament is important to represent the people.