Women elected for first time

RIYADH: At least seven women won municipal council seats in Saudi Arabia’s first ever election open to female voters and candidates, officials said yesterday, in a milestone for the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom.

“Even if it was only one woman, we’re really proud of that. Honestly, we weren’t expecting anyone to win,” said Sahar Hassan Nasief, a women’s rights activist in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

At least seven women emerged victorious from a field of candidates vastly outnumbered by men in a male-dominated society.

Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected to a council in the holy city of Mecca, the official SPA news agency reported, citing election commission president Osama al-Bar.

She ran against seven men and two women in Saturday’s ballot, he added.

A second woman, Hanouf bint Mufrih bin Ayid al-Hazmi, won in the northwestern region of Jawf, SPA said.

In the kingdom’s east, Sanna Abdel Latif Hamam and Maasooma Abdel Mohsen alRida were elected in Ihsa province, it added.

At least three women in the capital Riyadh won council seats, according to a Saudi news channel, Al-Ekhbaria.

Their duties on municipal councils will be limited to local affairs including responsibility for streets, public gardens and rubbish collection.

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy with some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women, including a ban on driving.

It was the last country to allow only men to vote, and polling stations were segregated during the ballot.

Among the 6,440 candidates running for seats on 284 councils figured more than 900 women.

They had to overcame a number of obstacles to participate in the landmark poll.