Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A number of Shoura Council members have expressed their dismay over the Jeddah Municipal Council's decision to keep away two female members during its first meeting. The Shoura members said there is nothing wrong in women members participating in municipal council meetings as long as they wear the hijab and follow Shariah. They said the Jeddah Municipal Council's decision would have a negative impact on women's participation in nation building. They urged the provincial councils, chambers of commerce and industry and municipal councils to adopt the successful experiment of the Shoura Council, where women members sit beside men to take part in discussions. Dr. Sadqa Fadil, a Shoura member, said: "Khulwa (being alone with a strange woman) is prohibited in Islam. At the same time, mingling with men wearing modest dress is permissible for a number of legitimate and logical reasons. In public places like markets women have to mix with men and here they have to wear the hijab and follow Shariah rules." He added: "Like the Shoura, provincial and municipal councils and chambers discuss general issues and this requires men and women members sitting together under the same roof on condition that men should respect women's presence. Women, on the other hand, should respect men and follow the Shariah regulations." Fadil said women's participation in such official meetings with men is not only allowed but also compulsory as all of them work together for public interest. He said the Shoura, being the higher council, has set a good example for other lower councils for the permissible mingling of men and women members, following Shariah rules and discipline. "At the Shoura, we have a separate area for women who enter through a separate gate and they don't meet with men. All of them wear the hijab and no male member is allowed to go to the female section." Dr. Zuhair Al-Harthi, another Shoura member, urged Saudis to look at women as partners in nation's development. Highlighting women's capabilities, he said that their efficiency is not less than men. They play an important role in bringing up new generations. There are great examples at international levels. "The Shoura has set a good example for allowed mingling of men and women and this has been approved by the higher authorities and the religious establishment. I believe other councils in the country should follow this example," he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. Dr. Hamda Al-Anazi, chairperson of the Shoura committee for social, family and youth affairs, said women entered the council on the basis of a Royal Decree. She emphasized that women's presence in the Shoura Council helped them in participating in discussions more effectively. "I am saying this on the basis of my personal experience as direct meeting gives the required results." Al-Anazi said she does not face any problem in handling male members during the committee's meetings and managing discussions. "I have participated in a meeting with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, along with my colleague Dr. Rida Obaid as well as the Shoura president and some other members while opening the new Shoura session. This reflects equality of men and women in rights and duties," she said. She was amazemed at what had happened at the Jeddah Municipal Council. "Candidates knew that women are contesting election and that there will be women members sitting beside them and they will be participating in field inspections, and will participate in conferences in and outside the country," she said.
