Saudi Women win Elections for the first time

[Etoiliste]

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.

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.

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

[1714752738]

1714752738

[1714752738]

1714752738

[bryant.coleman]

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.

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.

[mudiko]

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

[ACAB]

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.

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

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.

[ausbit]

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.

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

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.

[a7mos]

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 !

[bryant.coleman]

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 !

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.

[xht]

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 !

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.

[ACAB]

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.

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.

[bryant.coleman]

Exactly. I know Muslim countries well, even the most fanatic ones are changing now.

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.

[simplelife888]

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

[salinizm]

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

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

[acroman08]

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.

[enhu]

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.

[shiryu]

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

[bryant.coleman]

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.

[breeze170]

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

[enhu]

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.

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

[Daniel91]

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.

[kuroman]

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.

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

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.

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