Multiple women elected to public office in Saudi Arabia

State-affiliated websites and independent news agencies indicate Saudi Arabians may have elected as many as 17 women, but no final tally has been announced. More importantly, female voters represented 42 per cent of the electorate, which by itself suggests there is a high level of interest among women to lead change in the kingdom.

The mayor of the city of Mecca, Osama al-Bar, told the AP that a woman won in a village called Madrakah, about 150 kilometers north of the city which houses the cube-shaped Kaaba to which Muslims around the world pray. Additionally, a woman won in Saudi Arabia’s southern border area of Jizan, another in Asir and two won in al-Ahsa. Khadra al-Mubarak in the Gulf coast city of Qatif confirmed that she was among the victors. A second woman, Hanouf bint Mufrih bin Ayid al- Hazmi, was elected in the northwestern region of Jawf, SPA said.

There had been heavy criticism in the lead up to the election from rights groups that the measure represented only limited progress due to the undemocratic nature of the country and heavy restrictions on women’s right to campaign. Another was elected in al-Babtain district.

“I’m really proud that we’re forming our future”.

“I don’t consider winning to be the ultimate goal”, she said.

Around 7,000 candidates, among them 979 women, competed for 2,100 seats across the country.

“And, we’re opening the door for much more females to come and participate”. Women voters said registration was hindered by factors including bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of transportation. A total of 978 women and 5,938 men were registered as candidates for the elections, records show.

In Jeddah, about 80 percent of registered women voted, far exceeding the percentage of men.

Gender segregation at public facilities meant that female candidates were unable to directly meet the majority of voters – men – during their campaigns.

Male guardians are family members who must authorise a woman’s travel, work or marriage.

Veiled Saudi women take photos of their children during a ceremony to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s Independence Day in Riyadh, September 23, 2009.

The is what the late King Abdullah sought to do when he granted women the right to vote and run in the 2015 municipal elections.