Saudi representative council expanded, but not for women - Arab News
----QUOTE------
The appointment of women, however, has been ruled out at this stage, with the issue not mooted officially, although it has been raised on several occasions. Members of the council, including Osama Kurdi and Muhammad Al-Zulfa have called for the appointment of women, arguing there was no justification for keeping women out of the council.
The council, established in 1992, has powers to legislate new laws and introduce changes to existing laws without first seeking royal permission. It can pass any law and send it for government approval.
A prominent Saudi female human rights campaigner, Dr. Suhaila Zainul Abideen Hammad, urged the authorities to reconsider the decision banning women and appoint female members to the council in the upcoming reshuffle. "I asked for a third of the seats because 30 new members will be added to the Shoura Council and 20 existing members will have their membership extended. We should have women as the new members, and instead of extending the term of the 20 men these should be replaced with women," said Dr. Suhaila, an executive member of the National Society for Human Rights.
She said Islam does not prevent women from taking part in the Shoura. "The word shoura or consultation used in the Qur'an is referred to the general public and does not specify men, which means there is nothing in Islam that prevents women from participating," she added.
------E.O.Q., emphasis added------
Mohamed has more. Check out his other posts, too.
"Failure is impossible"
-Susan B Anthony, at National American Woman Suffrage Association.
After being jailed for voting illegally, Anthony wrote, "It was we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, but we, the whole people who formed this union." The 19th Amendment, granting voting rights to women, was passed [in 1920] 14 years after Anthony's death. [Publishers Weekly]
----QUOTE------
The appointment of women, however, has been ruled out at this stage, with the issue not mooted officially, although it has been raised on several occasions. Members of the council, including Osama Kurdi and Muhammad Al-Zulfa have called for the appointment of women, arguing there was no justification for keeping women out of the council.
The council, established in 1992, has powers to legislate new laws and introduce changes to existing laws without first seeking royal permission. It can pass any law and send it for government approval.
A prominent Saudi female human rights campaigner, Dr. Suhaila Zainul Abideen Hammad, urged the authorities to reconsider the decision banning women and appoint female members to the council in the upcoming reshuffle. "I asked for a third of the seats because 30 new members will be added to the Shoura Council and 20 existing members will have their membership extended. We should have women as the new members, and instead of extending the term of the 20 men these should be replaced with women," said Dr. Suhaila, an executive member of the National Society for Human Rights.
She said Islam does not prevent women from taking part in the Shoura. "The word shoura or consultation used in the Qur'an is referred to the general public and does not specify men, which means there is nothing in Islam that prevents women from participating," she added.
------E.O.Q., emphasis added------
Mohamed has more. Check out his other posts, too.
"Failure is impossible"
-Susan B Anthony, at National American Woman Suffrage Association.
After being jailed for voting illegally, Anthony wrote, "It was we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, but we, the whole people who formed this union." The 19th Amendment, granting voting rights to women, was passed [in 1920] 14 years after Anthony's death. [Publishers Weekly]
Labels: Saudi Arabia
posted by John B. Chilton at 4/01/2005 09:29:00 PM
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