WUNRN
The Consultative
Assembly of Saudi Arabia also known as Majlis as-Shura or Shura Council is
the formal advisory body of Saudi Arabia, which
is an absolute monarchy.
Although it has no legislative powers, it
has limited functions in government, but no power to pass or enforce laws. It
has 150 members that are appointed by the King, and six of them are women,[1] as of March 2011.
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SAUDI
ARABIA - SHOURA COUNCIL FAVORS WOMEN VOTING
Arab News - 07 June, 2011
The
Shoura Council recommended to the government on Monday that it take necessary
measures to allow Saudi women to vote in municipal elections under Islamic law.
The decision was taken unanimously by members of the council, which also
discussed the annual report of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs
during its 38th regular session, chaired by the Shoura Chairman Abdullah
Al-Asheikh in Riyadh on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters, Shoura Council Secretary-General Muhammad Al-Ghamdi said
the house took the decision when the council's committee on housing, water and
public services tabled its comments on the report, which covered the fiscal
year 1427/1428 AH.
Although the members strongly recommended women participate in the municipal
elections, Al-Ghamdi explained that the house insisted that the franchise
should only be exercised by women in line with Islamic regulations.
In the upcoming municipal elections in the Kingdom, women are not allowed
either to vote or to contest the polls.
"This was a general recommendation," Reuters news agency quoted
Mohammed Almuhanna, media spokesman for the Shoura Council, as saying. "It
has nothing to do with the current elections but is rather a recommendation for
future elections."
Hundreds of women around the Kingdom have joined an online campaign called
Baladi, Arabic for "My Country", in protest at their exclusion from
the municipal elections.
In April, dozens showed up at voting registration centers in Riyadh, Jeddah and
Dammam to demand their right to vote but were turned down by officials.
The council also urged the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to impose a
tax on pieces of vacant land in urban areas. Members argued that such a tax
would bring down the prices of real estate as landowners would then be
encouraged to sell.
Last week, Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Mansour bin Miteb had
discussions with members of the council on various matters concerning his
ministry's projects at its 34th regular session.
During the meeting, the prince told the members that in order to ease traffic
jams, his ministry had embarked on a major study to identify alternative public
transport means such as a metro system and luxury coaches in major cities.
Al-Ghamdi said the council also requested the ministry to accelerate the
implementation of its strategic plan to prevent floods due to rains and
construct a sewage system. The members also suggested that the ministry
concentrate in developing towns. They stressed that construction of new
buildings should not be allowed in valleys and areas prone to natural disasters
such as earthquakes and floods.
To ease traffic congestion, the members said the respective municipalities
should set up parking lots to accommodate vehicles in an orderly fashion.
Traffic jams in major cities in the Kingdom is a major concern of the urban
authorities.
Discussing a separate subject, members said the General Audit Bureau should be
fully computerized to improve its functions and facilitate better coordination
with relevant authorities.