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Not only are Saudi Women contesting and voting in elections for the first time, they have won some seats as well. :)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/saudi-women-win-handful-of-seats-in-elections-to-local-councils/2015/12/13/39e2444c-9ad1-11e5-aca6-1ae3be6f06d2_story.html

Looks like it's only a show: "The councils are the only government bodies elected by Saudi citizens. They do not have legislative powers, but advise authorities and help oversee local budgets." And as the article says some of the women who won had influential families. So they can say women participate and there is some democracy. But nothing changes. On the other hand if the government is doing this in response to pressure from the people that is a good sign. Means they believe using force as they usually do is not the way to solve the situation.

History will be when women have equal rights to the men in Saudi Arabia. And when they stop wearing those horrible, suffocating clothes that only show their eyes under the guise of religion! That is not religion -- it is a society and culture that controls and oppresses women. But the poor women probably do not even understand that because they are not allowed to think or choose for themselves.

Yeah... big deal. Saudi women can't go out in the public without a male companion. And the pro-Saudi media whores are making such noise over the alleged election of a few females there. Saudi Arabia has remained as a stone age country for the last 2,000 years or so. No amount of oil money has managed to make them civilized.

Saudi Arabia is a theocratic dictatorship. Nothing has changed. The leadership, wisely if cynically, understood a coming problem and gave women the façade of empowerment, lest they might cause trouble. Nothing has meaningfully changed for women in Saudi Arabia.

This is just show, fiction, utter bollock.
Women under Islam do not be counted as human at all.

I don't think that real changes are actually going to happen. Women in islamic countries have very long jurney to the equality. And they may never get there.

We are in the twenty-first century and  they were to get late for it but it is mean not bad ofcourse , everyone of world can talk for every area and for everything because of i m glad for saudi woman win the right to vote

Great news!!! I am happy to see those backward ppl are making some progress. So what is next step for Saudis? Maybe to let women to drive car or something?

It's really historic change for all Muslim women, not just in Saudi Arabia.
I hope that now other changes will start in this isolated and very closed country like possibility for women to drive cars!
They still have a very long way to pass but at least they finally started.

It is really great news
i m sure the God  doesnt think woman and man hasnt equal rights .

I don't think its enough because still they need too much time to settle things around them they are living in Stone age and they are not going to give any power to them these women just for some blah blah nothing in real

Define progress. If you are talking about the "progress" as per the Western Liberal terminology, then I believe that they are already quite "progressed". Rich Saudi sheikhs travel to London and Hollywood, where they indulge in homosexual orgies and cocaine parties. The women are having fewer options, but trust me, they are not that far behind.

This is a very welcome change. Its good to see women participating and winning in an elections. Other nations should follow the same.

Never knew that this is the first time. When the law is so strict there, why can't women too be treated equally?


Don't tell me women aren't even allowed to drive their own vehicles. This country seems to be treating women as some unwanted beings. When they don't respect women, what's the point of each Arab having 10-15 wives at a time.

She should be punished for winning elections. Other winner men should throw rocks to her. What kind of election is this? Women have no right in management in Islamic countries. ;)

No one can keep 10 to 15 wives at a time mostly they have only 4 if any one want more then they leave one and bring new one just in the name of religious its really matter of shame they are not allowing women for their rights which give them by Islam

They  can keep 4 wives and slaves. Maids in Saudi Arabia are often sexually abused.

Saudis maybe have high technology and lot of money but their way of thinking was not evolved a bit for thousand years. They still live in society from middle age just with 21 century tech and weapons.

Legally they have 4 wives but they get married quite often.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-01-01-saudi-polygamy_x.htm

These things happening in many other countries also he lost names of many wives mean he leave them mostly they done many marriages but just keep four at a time in Subcontinent I have some informations they also done like this done many marriages and just keep one or four

Maybe true for saudi arabia. But not for islamic countries in general. Different countries like pakistan, indonesia, turkey, senegal, bangladesh, iran, mali, etc, have or had in the past women leaders. Presidents, prime ministers, etc. And in many other islamic countries women can have positions of authority too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_female_political_leaders

This could be a milestone but how could these elected women acquire the confidence if their liberty does not start from their homes where they are still under the guardianship of males. I think it would be more important for the women if they are first given the personal liberty.

Does this win mean Saudi women will have more rights in daily life.  If so, that is a good start for the people in Saudi Arab.

This is only to make saudi arabs looks good, saudi women have more things they can't do that things they can do.

20 Saudi Women Candidates elected, really ? And they still have to remain practically covered-up from head to toe as well ? Are they really "women ?" Are they entitled to any shower and laundry facilities as well so that they can rid themselves of their lice as well ?

I don't think they have more rights as they are not going to allow this in near future its need some good time because most of Saudi men agree not to give them more rights they are living in stone age

Do you really expect these women to make a difference in the way Saudi 's run their Government . After the Pak's women came here and filled he goal as terrorist with her boy friend , Hard-line terrorism exists in the women also . One who left the US said she would like to behead Christians with a dull knife . What type of people are they converting into terrorist . RADICALIZED

ALLOWED to vote?! It's their right as human beings, not a favour that some imbeciles are doing them!
Just shows how much this country is in the stone age.
Given another thousand years they might have proper freedoms.

Do you honestly think that in a country where women can't go out on their own and are basically 'owned' by their husband, 'elections' mean something?
It is not even Parliamentary elections or elections of any kind worth mentioning which have real power to change something in Saudi Arabia.

Yes, they can vote but they can't drive!!
There are a lot of other things that women can't do.
http://www.theweek.co.uk/60339/eleven-things-women-in-saudi-arabia-cant-do

Women in ISLAM ...

If you  wants the reality, plesae find here, all the answers of your questions.

http://www.alislam.org/library/women.html

There are so many misconceptions surrounds, so this is the complete guaidence, so many people think wrong about Women in islam.

This is the website of the Ahmadi site, correct?
Are Ahmadis even considered Muslims in Pakistan?

I dont think it is not enough  too they begin it but  they were so late just 100 years for it

You may say they are in the Stone Age, but according to their religion women are not to be given the same rights as  men and this belief stifles their progress.

NO. The Saudi women will remain as powerless slaves, as they have always been.

Less than 10% of the women registered to vote, and far fewer actually cast their ballots. I read that a dozen or so of the women candidates were elected, but I am quite sure that they will just act as rubber stamps for their husbands. These officials will have no power, and every single decision will be taken by their husbands. 

1.35 million registered men voters. 130K registered women voters.
It is a miracle that any woman managed to win. :)

Looking through history and traditions of world religions, I hazard a guess that males are afraid of women who have the "power" to distract men physically. Since such an attraction uncontrolled, breaks the tradition of world religions, it is easier for the men to "get rid of" women, keep them out of sight so the men don't have to control themselves. Then, the greatest punishment males can inflict on a woman is to rape her, despoiling her so that she will be banished from society. Not ideal problem solving, but one that has worked for male-dominated societies for thousands of years. Yes, women, stand up

Excessive male dominance is as bad as excessive female dominance. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar are examples of absolute male dominance. In countries such as Norway and Sweden, the exact opposite is true. We should favor a middle path, where there is equal freedom for all the citizens, regardless of their gender.

Are they really women? And 130k female voters vs. 1.35 million men voters? How do the muslims breed or are the other women slaves, part of the harem? Surely, with these numbers, women can enjoy equality, LOL.

Saudi arabia have the biggest dictatorship in the islam countries women freedom mostly limited in the golf countries other then that the other countries women enjoy their freedom

Most of the Saudi males have multiple wives or mistresses. The norm is that an ordinary Saudi male will have one native Saudi wife (rarely, in case of royals and other influential people, multiple native wives are allowed). The "extra" wives are from Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia, India, and Bangladesh. These wives are more akin to concubines, and they are not entitled to the Saudi citizenship. The children, who are born to Saudi fathers and foreign mothers are not normally given Saudi citizenship. Then there are mistresses, from countries such as the Philippines and Eastern Europe. The Arabs use them for two or three years, and then send them (and their children) home after giving a few thousand USD.

Elections make no change in Saudi . That is why it is not showing any better conditions for women yet.

Some people really don't get any sarcasm. Religions are not problem, but people who change for their personal gains are. We must fight against them.

Women is winning the election in many Islamic countries like Pakistan,Bangladesh. So its like a first time in saudi women is winning the election, which shows they have started giving some powers to womens too. Now they also realized men and women is also same and women can also do the things which mens are doing in saudi. In many countries many Muslim women is working in office but before in saudi they wants their women to be loved and give love only. Now some of the Saudis women started doing jobs too.

It is quite funny that Saudi Arabia allowed women to vote in the elections while they still do not allow them to drive cars.
So who can they go to vote ? On foot ! :D

These steps are just being taken in order to improve the image of the Saudis in the Western world. Since a large number of the media mouthpieces in the Western nations are owned by the Saudis, such gimmicks will be given a lot of air-time and importance, while hiding the countless cases of human rights violations occurring in Saudi Arabia and the other GCC nations.

they only ran for office so they could get a driver, since they aren't allowed to drive themselves.

Because Saudi Arabia respects women and views them as equals, you see.

This is why they prosecute women for the crime of being raped.

Exactly. I know Muslim countries well, even the most fanatic ones are changing now. You have to adapt to the new world. There are different rules now, you can't trust a 1400 year old modified book.

I am not going to agree with you. It is the exact opposite of what you have mentioned, happening right now. Take any Muslim nation as example. Here are a few:

1. Turkey: Used to be staunchly secular two decades ago. Now Islamists are in power, and the secular individuals and organizations are under harassment.

2. Bangladesh: Used to be secular. Still ruled by a secular ruler (Sheikh Hasina Wazed). However, two decades of Wahhabi funding from Saudi Arabia and Qatar has meant that a large part of the population is now sympathetic to organizations such as the ISIS and Al Qaeda.

3. Indonesia: Used to be secular. The Indonesian religion used to be a mixture of Hinduism and Islam. However, as a result of the Arab funding, the general population is getting increasingly radicalized.

4. Afghanistan: In the 1970s, Afghanistan used to be one of the most liberal nations in the world. The pro-Russian People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) encouraged secularism and suppressed radical Islam. However, the CIA supported mercenaries overthrew the PDPA government and replaced it with a Jihadi regime. Now Afghanistan is one of the most fanatical nations in the world.

5. Tadzhikistan: Used to be secular and 100% literate, when it was a part of the USSR. Now most of the younger generation is illiterate, and radical Islam is spreading rapidly.

This is good but it is not enough i hope not only saudi woman will win this
i wish all of people can live this world with equal rights and we can be better this life without relagions problems without racism and the world can be better for our children

it is a turning point of women's right in saudi arabia .. i hope the conditions for women in saudi arabia will get better..

Well I think this is the start for the women in Saudi to compete side to side with men in their country it may take a long time for men to completely acknowledge them as an equal, but this is the start for that change.

why did they ever let her run for a position by the way? 

I think she won't be long and she'll definitely dethroned later. Its a patriarchal country, its in their religion and they don't want to be rules by women. Every body's eyes is going to be on her waiting for her to screw up.

How do you know who you voted for is actually taking office with the face mask covering her face?

They have a method in place to take care of this issue. In the bill boards and advertisements, instead of the candidates's picture, they will put her husband's picture (taking picture of a female is forbidden in Wahhabi Islam). Actually it is OK, as the husband will be taking all the important decisions after the elections, instead of the elected official.

Is this 20th century? Where were you Saudi?
This is even too late to do in this age.

i guess its still the husband that rules. and if he screw up, its the wife that's to be punished? that makes sense.

I think that Saudi women still have to go a very long way in order to achieve equal rights with Saudi men.
This election is a very small step in achieving that goal.
It's difficult for women to achieve true freedom and equality in such close and traditional Islam society.

Everything starts up with a small first step, while it's far from being enough, I won't disregard this, let see if in next election there is more women that get trough, little by little things will change


Even in our western societies there is no such thing as true freedom or equality that's just a myth, but I see your point which is to get a better freedom and close the gap

That may be true, but this event will inspire women in saudi to prove themselve even more, not just as a house wife but a worker and a leader that capable of leading her country to success.

Local elected officials have very few powers in Saudi Arabia. However, they control the local bodies and do deal with good amounts of funds. I am not sure what will happen, if the official's husband (or the other male relatives) engages in corruption or money laundering. Probably, the elected female official will be the one who is gong to get punished.

i'm really curious about what lead saudi authorties make these dramatic changes on women rights.. they dont even admit women as a humankind.. i hope thing will be better for women in saudi arabia.

Yes for the first time in their history. But actually nothing changes. First it's a question how much woman were on elections, she can not go on the street without agreement of male companion, can not drive the car and can not go out from state without agreement of father or husband. Also there was a campaign which was leaded by one of saudi princess "my husband knows what is best for me" which denied and minimize woman rights at all