Women on municipal councils

Qaisar Hamid Metawea Al-Madina   The upcoming municipal elections will not be like the elections held in previous years. They will be the scene of hot debate, but not between candidates for membership on the councils. Instead, the debate is largely around the inclusion of women as voters and candidates for the first time in the Kingdom. Since it was announced several years ago that Saudi women could vote and be elected to municipal councils, society in general, and social media in particular, saw much debate about women’s participation. In recent years, the debate became noticeably fiercer, particularly with the beginning of municipal elections drawing near. An organized, fierce campaign was launched, aimed at preventing women from voting or being nominated. Such campaigns are not unusual; people in the Kingdom have got used to them, especially when the matter concerns women. We witnessed similar campaigns when women became members of the Shoura Council. We not only saw a campaign, but there were insults, defamation, false accusations and belittling the status of female members of the council. Such behavior and attitudes continue to this day. Such sentiments continue to be expressed, despite the contributions of the female members of the Shoura Council. Some people attempt to foil women’s participation in municipal council elections by looking for any mistake or fault that may happen during the election process. They exaggerate such mistakes with the intent of preventing women from voting or winning a seat. They talk about secondary matters that have nothing to do with women voting. Their aim is to harm women. We do not deny that it may not be an easy experience for women, especially female candidates seeking membership on a council, in a society that has not previously allowed women to participate in elections. But the experience itself will be unique for all. We can all argue about women voting or being elected to councils. We might agree or disagree on any number of matters. Everybody’s right to express their opinion is guaranteed, but nobody has the right to encroach on the rights of women to vote or run in municipal elections, especially by insulting them or spreading false accusations. Just because they do not agree with women voting doesn’t mean they can insult them. Furthermore, nobody has the right to attempt to take from women their right to be nominated to the municipal councils. Our ruler, according to the municipal council regulations, has granted these rights to women. All we wish is that this first experience of voting will be a success for all women, and we hope that it ends in a civilized manner, befitting the Kingdom’s reputation.