http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10146274.html
08/13/2007 10:48 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Manama: Women activists have blasted a statement by Islamist deputies opposing the election of a woman to head the Council of Representatives’ finance committee.
“A major premise of democracy is that those who are elected to the parliament represent all the people, and not just a specific gender, sect or category,” Women’s Union spokeswoman Fatima Rabia said.
“The constitution rejects any form of discrimination, and no parliamentary bloc should discriminate against women. MP Latifa Al Gaood should be given the opportunity to prove her capabilities and her aptitudes. She may be better than her predecessor, and she should be judged on her skills, not on her being a woman.”
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10146274.html
08/13/2007 10:48 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
Manama: Women activists have blasted a statement by Islamist deputies opposing the election of a woman to head the Council of Representatives’ finance committee.
“A major premise of democracy is that those who are elected to the parliament represent all the people, and not just a specific gender, sect or category,” Women’s Union spokeswoman Fatima Rabia said.
“The constitution rejects any form of discrimination, and no parliamentary bloc should discriminate against women. MP Latifa Al Gaood should be given the opportunity to prove her capabilities and her aptitudes. She may be better than her predecessor, and she should be judged on her skills, not on her being a woman.”
On Sunday, Ebrahim Bu Sandal, representing Al Asala, a Salafi religious and political society, said that his bloc was opposed to the possibility of fellow MP Latifa heading the finance committee when the parliament reconvenes because she was a woman.
“We adhere to our principle based on religious precepts that women should not run for parliament, let alone head committees,” Bu Sandal said in his press statement.
Panel election
Al Asala, the second largest bloc in the 40-member lower house did not field any woman candidates in the November elections won by Sunni and Shiite Islamists. Latifa was the only woman to win a seat.
Bu Sandal’s remarks drew the ire of activists.
“We are shocked by the discriminatory remarks that reflect a strange mentality and defy all logic. What compounds the situation is that they are made by elected deputies who are supposed to represent all the citizens and help advance the situation of women,” Zainab Al Durazi, the head of training at Bahrain Human Rights Society, said.
“We believe that Latifa is well qualified to head a committee. It is crazy how they accept that women are allowed to run for parliament, but do not want them to head a committee,” she said.
For activist Dhiya Al Shaker, Bahraini women have demonstrated their ability to hold high-profile offices.
“We have had ministers, ambassadors, judges and even a United Nations general assembly president. Those who oppose Al Gaood simply do not want women to advance or to reach higher positions,” the activist said.
Two committees in the Shura Council, the upper house in the bicameral parliament, are headed by women. Bahiya Al Jisha heads the services committee and Dalal Al Zayed is the chair of the women and children committee.
