WOMEN participation in the municipal election this year will be another historical mark in Saudi women's journey for equality. Women empowerment in Saudi took a new curve marked by the appointment of 30 women in the Shoura Council back 2013. Women in Shoura are participating based on a quota system, which grants them 20% of the chairs in the council. This has encouraged women to call for implementing the quota system in the municipal elections to ensure that they will participate in the municipal councils. Arij Jalal, an activist, noted that it is something positive that women can now join in municipal elections, however, she noted that she is not optimistic especially that this is a new experience in a masculine society. “Unfortunately there is not yet trust in women from men though women have been in the Shoura Council for some time.” This is the first step for women she noted, adding, that in the following municipal election round which will take place four years from now, women will be more experienced and will avoid problems that occurred this year. According to her there were only a few women at the municipal election center who were registering their names when she arrived at the center, adding, “the media persons coming for coverage were actually more than the women wanting to register!” Jalal said that there are complicated procedures, which she said made registering at the election centers difficult. Among them, she said, is that women are asked to bring an accommodation contract and a certified paper from the mayor of their district. She elaborated that many women, like her, are living with their families, which makes it impossible for them to provide a distinct residential document. She added that women who entered the Shoura managed to change the general stereotype about women and therefore paved the way for other women to follow the same path to create a society that uses the skills of both men and women. Asked about what she demands from women candidate, who opt to take part in this year municipal elections, she said that she wants them “to stick to their agendas and implement them for the benefit of the society, focus on youth projects and development projects that will benefit their districts.” The kingdom held two elections previously one in 2005 another in 2011. Many are keen this year to see what the women will add to the panel discussion at the municipal elections. A third of the 1,263 municipal election centers are allocated for women. In Jeddah alone there are 86 women who are involved in the process of organizing the municipal election in female sections. Jeddah comes third regarding the flow of registration in municipal elections following Riyadh and the Eastern Province. There are different opposing views about the participation of women in the elections especially on social media were some people encouraged and supported women to take part in the elections, while others were totally against the move with even Sheikhs like Abdul Rahman Al-Barak noting that the participation of women in elections is “Haram” (forbidden,) in Islam and is an imitation of disbelievers.
