JEDDAH — Reiterating the importance of women's participation in the legal profession in the country, a prominent Saudi female lawyer has said women's membership in the Commission for Saudi Lawyers is a public right. "Legal problems of women are different from men. Therefore women deserve to represent themselves in courts as lawyers and they should fight to work in the field," said Bayan Zahran, the first female lawyer to appear in a Saudi court of law in November 2013 after obtaining a license to practice the profession. Zahran said any judicial platform should have male and female members to balance the interests of the public on an equal footing. She believes that women's employment in the investigation and prosecution will happen sooner or later, given the urgent need for it. "The accused may be a man or woman, and our society is very closed when dealing with women. The interrogation of suspects in criminal cases needs special skills to monitor their reactions and facial expressions and the investigator alone will be in control of the process in practical terms given he or she holds the required qualifications and experience," she said. Zahran stressed that the official authorities in the country, without exception, respond to female lawyers and appreciate the role of Saudi women lawyers, especially those who we were able to demonstrate their knowledge about the regulations and procedures in an integrated manner. She added: "As for the Saudi Lawyers Commission, there is no doubt that the support is important because it is the umbrella for lawyers to enrich their experience and professional skills and make suggestions in order to develop the profession." Zahran said women from the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were leaders and able to demonstrate their creativity and achieve success in many fields. "Based on that, women are capable of fulfilling any role in society once equipped with the necessary skills," she added. Meanwhile, lawyer Dima Talal Al-Sharif, who heads the food and drugs wing at a law firm, said the media followed the entry of women into the hitherto male-dominated field of legal practice with utmost interest. She pointed out that women's entry into the world of law stirred mixed reactions varying from swift acceptance to astonishment and outright rejection. Al-Sharif said Saudi women lawyers have made a number of tangible achievements in the field of human rights and have proven themselves to be effective as lawyers in a short span of time. "One of the most important developments in the Saudi female lawyers' march to progress is the decision to employ them in nine administrative courts in Riyadh, Makkah and the Eastern Province, in addition to courts in various regions of the Kingdom starting this month," said Al-Sharif. As for the challenges facing Saudi female lawyers, Al-Sharif said the most notable of them include proving their capabilities in courtrooms as well as demonstrating excellence and innovation. "We aspire to create an environment for women to contribute effectively in judicial institutions. This ambition has already begun to become a reality through the decision to integrate women in the court systems," added Al-Sharif. She said female lawyers in Saudi Arabia need more encouragement from society, parents and colleagues, adding that such support from peers and veterans in the profession is important because it will demonstrate their quest for ensuring human rights for all.
