RIYADH: The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has said that not permitting women to vote in the municipal council elections is a breach of international agreements signed by the Kingdom. A source at the NSHR told Al-Hayat Arabic daily that the all-male vote is “in clear violation” of some international accords, citing an agreement to end “all forms of discrimination against women” to which Saudi Arabia became signatory to in December 2000 and which has entered national law with the exception of some articles under provisos. The source said that the NSHR hopes to see women allowed to run for election and vote for candidates “in accordance with Shariah Law” to “help what is half of society contribute to the public good”. “Women in the Kingdom have their rights protected by Islamic Shariah and the law, and the Islamic religion is just in all aspects, as it made women of equal human value to men,” he said adding that expectations were high that women would be allowed to participate in this year's elections and that the recent announcement dispelling those hopes took many by surprise. “Women's participation would be of benefit from the level of the local district to that of the whole city,” the source said. The municipal election committee, which announced that women would not be taking part in the elections due to a “lack of readiness and facilities”, portrayed the issue as more difficult than it is, according to the source. “The facilities available at schools for males are also available for females,” the source said. “Some of society's traditions, procedures and beliefs may have produced a degree of hesitancy in this area.” On the work of the municipal councils in general, the NSHR official said that their limited jurisdiction was a drawback, coupled with a degree of “sycophancy between council members holding sway over the interests of the public”. “The public wonders what has been achieved and what will be achieved in the near future and what the hopes of the electorate can expect,” he said. “I hope to see a rise in the number of elected councilors and a law laying out the conditions for candidacy and election,” he said. “Currently only half of all councilors are elected to their seats. The other half being unelected does not serve the councils. Two thirds of the members should be elected.”
