http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=60662&d=19&m=3&y=2005 Saturday, 19, March, 2005 (08, Safar, 1426)
A Third of Shoura Council Seats Sought for Women Members Maha Akeel & Abeer Mishkhas, Arab News JEDDAH, 19 March 2005 - Dr. Suhaila Zainul Abideen Hammad, a prominent executive member of the National Society for Human Rights, has urged authorities to appoint women to the Shoura Council in the upcoming reshuffle and give them a third of the seats. "I asked for a third because 30 new members will be added to the Shoura Council and 20 existing members will have their membership extended, so why not have women as the new members, and instead of extending the term of the 20 men replace them with women," Dr. Suhaila told Arab News. She emphasized that Shariah 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. In addition, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) consulted a woman as did Caliph Omar ibn Al-Khattab on issues concerning the whole Muslim nation and not just about issues concerning women, she said referring to the present Shoura practice of consulting women on issues concerning them. "Lady Ayesha, the Prophet's wife, used to give opinions on general topics, so why are they restricting women in the issues they can address?" asked Dr. Suhaila. "Women bring a different perspective to things that men might not have considered or been aware of as the 50 women who were consulted by the Shoura on marriage and spinsterhood had done," she added. "Women are as capable and qualified as men to hold this position and other high positions because we need the participation of both men and women to have a full picture of any issue," she said. She rejected justifications such as Saudi society is not ready for women on the Shoura or that there is a need to segregate men and women. "These are old excuses. Women are working in hospitals, in the media and now in the diplomatic field. The point about seating in the council or segregation as well as communication via a closed circuit television is up to our leaders to decide and should not be a major obstacle," she said. "I'm optimistic that our leadership will see that society needs women in the Shoura. Our government is stepping forward in its reform efforts and it has always supported women in giving them their human rights and Islamic rights and the Shariah is definitely not against involving women in policy and decision making. So I'm hopeful that the government will respond in a positive way," she said. Dr. Asma Siddiqui commended Suhaila for taking up the issue. "I am glad Dr. Suhaila is at least bringing this issue to the headlines regardless of whether or not there is any immediate response to it. Women will have to become active participants in our national affairs sooner or later. I don't think there will be any major opposition if women become selected members of the Shoura Council as it does not contradict any aspect of either our religion or our cultural values," she said. Already, both the government and the private sector have reached out for more participation from amongst Saudi women in so many ways. Women have so much insight into what is happening within our communities. It will be detrimental to our social structure to keep them sidelined much longer, she added. Fatima Khaled, a psychologist, said appointment of women must be a priority. "The council is already using them in an advisory capacity so why not appoint them to the council," she added. "The numbers aren't the issue now, but the actual representation of women is a priority. Once women are appointed then the numbers can be discussed. It could be one-third or even more for we represent 50 percent of the population," she said. 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