Bahrain election 2006 women candidates
Encyclopedia
Women candidates of the 2006 Bahrain election, which took place on the November 25, 2006 were reported to have received numerous threats from Islamic salafist and other factions to prevent them taking part. In all, eighteen female candidates of various political stances and views took part after recent changes to the political system in 2001 allowed women to not only become candidates, but also gave them the right to vote.
Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa came to power in Bahrain
and national liberalisation quickly followed with the passing of the National Charter of Action in which many personal freedoms were clearly laid out. A referendum
was held on February 14–15, 2001 through which the charter was approved. The legislation
therein came into full force on February 14, 2002, the year after the women of Bahrain were given the right to vote and stand for office. In a report in early 2001 it was noted that there were only four female majlis
, and none before this time. The majority of women who worked for the state still did so only in a supporting capacity. In 2002 when women went to the polls for the first time, no women candidates succeeded in being elected despite 10% of approximately 300 candidates being women, although one woman, Lateefa Al Gaood
, lost in a run off to salafist candidate, Jassim Al Saeedi
.
Women candidates complained that they were at a disadvantage because none of the popular Islamist parties have backed their candidacies, they cannot campaign in mosques, and social perceptions hinder them still.
In Bahrain, political parties are illegal and only allowed to be known as political associations. Despite this these political associations have regular powers to put forward candidates for election and act as a parliamentary bloc. The law makes clear that financial resources of political associations should come from membership fees and contributions and from revenues of their investments in the Kingdom as defined by their internal regulations. A political society is under no circumstances allowed to accept any contribution, advantage or benefit from any foreigner or any foreign entity or international organisation. Women candidates therefore relied on financial support from sources such as the women's rights body, the Supreme Council for Women
, which has also provided training to candidates.
On October 22, the Khaleej Times
reported that women candidates were receiving anonymous threats and mobile phone messages telling them to withdraw from the elections to 'avoid clashing with Islamic principles'.
Information Minister Dr Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar described the country’s elections as a historic day for Bahrain:
s are mentioned, these took place on December 2. Below is a non-comprehensive list of some of the women candidates in the election.
became the first female candidate to be elected to Bahrain's parliament when she won by default after the other two candidates in her constituency in the south of Bahrain withdrew from the race in the middle of October before campaigning began. She was also the first woman anywhere in the Gulf to be elected in a legislative general election. She represents the sixth constituency, Hawar
, of the Southern Governorate
, in the 40-member Chamber of Deputies. Due to her previous failure she stood for a different constituency in 2006 to increase her chances.
Ms Al Gaood is a British educated
civil servant, who worked for the Ministry of Finance.
Dr Munira Fakhro
Former Harvard academic and Vice President of the ex-Marxist National Democratic Action
, she stood for Isa Town against Al-Menbar Islamic Society
's Dr Salah Alibut was defeated with 3,169 votes. Her campaign during her candidacy included promises to create a link between education and employment and working for better retirement funds and housing. She stood as part of the National Democratic Action Society, also known as Wa'ad Society. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Bahrain
, and her academic interests encompass women, civil society and democracy in the Gulf
region.
, Ms Zainal is a Sunni Muslim who contested a constituency in Riffafor which she received 2,599 votes and was defeated. She is vice-president of the Bahrain Transparency Society, and in October 2006 signed an opposition petition calling for an investigation into allegations that powerful figures in the government were fuelling sectarianism
.
Ms Zainal said after her defeat:
She was reported to have received particularly negative treatment during the campaign in the run up to the election:
Critics commented about the style with which she faced her candidacy:
. During her campaign she said:
, an area that in 2002 was dominated by Asalah and Al-Menbar Islamic Society
. Ms Al Mutawa pledged to campaign on securing adequate housing, providing medical insurance, helping the unemployed and promoting the personal status law
.
.
.
, in the capital, Manama
.
Sabah Al Dosari and Khadija Al Kahtani were also known to be women candidates in this election.
History of women in local politics
In March 1999 SheikhSheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa came to power in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
and national liberalisation quickly followed with the passing of the National Charter of Action in which many personal freedoms were clearly laid out. A referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
was held on February 14–15, 2001 through which the charter was approved. The legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
therein came into full force on February 14, 2002, the year after the women of Bahrain were given the right to vote and stand for office. In a report in early 2001 it was noted that there were only four female majlis
Majlis
' , is an Arabic term meaning "a place of sitting", used in the context of "council", to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups be it administrative, social or religious in countries with linguistic or cultural connections to Islamic countries...
, and none before this time. The majority of women who worked for the state still did so only in a supporting capacity. In 2002 when women went to the polls for the first time, no women candidates succeeded in being elected despite 10% of approximately 300 candidates being women, although one woman, Lateefa Al Gaood
Lateefa Al Gaood
Lateefa Al Gaood is a Bahraini politician. In 2006, she became the first female candidate to be elected to the Council of Representatives of Bahrain. She won by default after the other two candidates in her constituency withdrew from the race in the middle of October before campaigning began...
, lost in a run off to salafist candidate, Jassim Al Saeedi
Jassim Al Saeedi
Jassim Al Saeedi is a Bahraini salafist MP, member of parliament representing a constituency in Riffa.After he was banned from standing in 2002's general election for the main Salafist party, Asalah, for being "too extreme", Al Saeedi stood and won the election as an independent...
.
Women candidates complained that they were at a disadvantage because none of the popular Islamist parties have backed their candidacies, they cannot campaign in mosques, and social perceptions hinder them still.
In Bahrain, political parties are illegal and only allowed to be known as political associations. Despite this these political associations have regular powers to put forward candidates for election and act as a parliamentary bloc. The law makes clear that financial resources of political associations should come from membership fees and contributions and from revenues of their investments in the Kingdom as defined by their internal regulations. A political society is under no circumstances allowed to accept any contribution, advantage or benefit from any foreigner or any foreign entity or international organisation. Women candidates therefore relied on financial support from sources such as the women's rights body, the Supreme Council for Women
Supreme Council for Women
The Supreme Council for Women is Bahrain’s advisory body to the government on women's issues. It is chaired by Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the wife of Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa...
, which has also provided training to candidates.
On October 22, the Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times
The Khaleej Times is a daily English language newspaper published in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Traditionally perceived as the second most popular newspaper in the UAE, Khaleej Times has struggled to keep up its circulation and entered 2011 with a print run of just under 40,000 copies...
reported that women candidates were receiving anonymous threats and mobile phone messages telling them to withdraw from the elections to 'avoid clashing with Islamic principles'.
Information Minister Dr Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar described the country’s elections as a historic day for Bahrain:
-
- "The turnout was high. The people of Bahrain visited the polling stations to exercise their democratic rights and vote for the candidates of their choice," he said.
Leading female candidates
Only one of the eighteen women running in this election won a seat. Where run-offTwo-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
s are mentioned, these took place on December 2. Below is a non-comprehensive list of some of the women candidates in the election.
Lateefa Al Gaood
Lateefa Al GaoodLateefa Al Gaood
Lateefa Al Gaood is a Bahraini politician. In 2006, she became the first female candidate to be elected to the Council of Representatives of Bahrain. She won by default after the other two candidates in her constituency withdrew from the race in the middle of October before campaigning began...
became the first female candidate to be elected to Bahrain's parliament when she won by default after the other two candidates in her constituency in the south of Bahrain withdrew from the race in the middle of October before campaigning began. She was also the first woman anywhere in the Gulf to be elected in a legislative general election. She represents the sixth constituency, Hawar
Hawar
Hawar is the largest of the Hawar Islands of Bahrain. Its area of 40 square kilometres is nearly 80% of that of the Hawar Island group.In 2002, Bahrain applied to have the Hawar islands recognised as a World Heritage Site, due to their unique environment and habitat for endangered species...
, of the Southern Governorate
Southern Governorate
The Southern Governorate is the largest of the five governorates of Bahrain. It includes parts of Bahrain's old municipalities - Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, and Juzur Hawar...
, in the 40-member Chamber of Deputies. Due to her previous failure she stood for a different constituency in 2006 to increase her chances.
Ms Al Gaood is a British educated
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
civil servant, who worked for the Ministry of Finance.
Dr Munira FakhroMunira FakhroMunira Fakhro, is a Bahraini academic and was a candidate in Bahrain's 2006 general election for the opposition Waad.Dr Fakhro is Associate Professor at the University of Bahrain, having received her Doctorate in Social Policy, Planning and Administration from Columbia University where she has...
Former Harvard academic and Vice President of the ex-Marxist National Democratic ActionNational Democratic Action
The National Democratic Action Society - Wa'ad is Bahrain's largest leftist political party. It emerged out of the Popular Front, a radical clandestine opposition movement of Maoist, socialist and Arab nationalist orientation...
, she stood for Isa Town against Al-Menbar Islamic Society
Al-Menbar Islamic Society
Al Menbar National Islamic Society is the political wing of the Al Eslah Society in Bahrain, associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. A Sunni Islamist party, it is well organised through a network of mosques and seek to promote a conservative social agenda while not directly challenging the...
's Dr Salah Alibut was defeated with 3,169 votes. Her campaign during her candidacy included promises to create a link between education and employment and working for better retirement funds and housing. She stood as part of the National Democratic Action Society, also known as Wa'ad Society. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Bahrain
University of Bahrain
The University of Bahrain , a public university in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is the largest university in Bahrain. In post-nominals the University of Bahrain is typically abbreviated as UoB....
, and her academic interests encompass women, civil society and democracy in the Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
region.
Fawzia Zainal
Head of Programmes at Bahrain Radio and Television CorporationBahrain Radio and Television Corporation
Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation is a Corporation established in January 1993 to regulate visual and audio broadcasting in the Kingdom of Bahrain according to Amir decree . 96.5 fm Bahrain Radio Timings: ...
, Ms Zainal is a Sunni Muslim who contested a constituency in Riffafor which she received 2,599 votes and was defeated. She is vice-president of the Bahrain Transparency Society, and in October 2006 signed an opposition petition calling for an investigation into allegations that powerful figures in the government were fuelling sectarianism
Sectarianism
Sectarianism, according to one definition, is bigotry, discrimination or hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions within a group, such as between different denominations of a religion, class, regional or factions of a political movement.The ideological...
.
Ms Zainal said after her defeat:
-
- "I have no regrets about my defeat. I have learned from this experience. It is disappointing that it is still considered a taboo for women here to contest elections. I want the new deputies to work for the welfare of the people."
She was reported to have received particularly negative treatment during the campaign in the run up to the election:
-
- "'Members of the society are distributing video tapes in which KuwaitKuwaitThe State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i religious leaders oppose the participation of women in elections,' said Fawzia whose posters were defaced and tent vandalised."
- "'Members of the society are distributing video tapes in which Kuwait
Jameela Al Sammak
Dr Jameela Al Sammak stood in the second constituency of the Capital Governorate and she is a member of the Women's Future Association.Critics commented about the style with which she faced her candidacy:
-
- "Dr Jameela Al Sammak did it with extraordinary panache. In fact, she took the battle to a public ground and did not hesitate to tell the people about the relentless onslaught on her and on her team."
Moza Sabt
Moza Sabt is an ex-teacher who stood in MuharraqMuharraq
Muharraq , is Bahrain's third largest city, and served as its capital until 1923. The city is located on Muharraq Island and has long been a centre of religiosity...
. During her campaign she said:
-
- "Only good education prepares people for the future. When a person is educated, it is much easier to face problems like unemployment"
Hoda Al Mutawa
Hoda Al Mutawa was a candidate in conservative MuharraqMuharraq
Muharraq , is Bahrain's third largest city, and served as its capital until 1923. The city is located on Muharraq Island and has long been a centre of religiosity...
, an area that in 2002 was dominated by Asalah and Al-Menbar Islamic Society
Al-Menbar Islamic Society
Al Menbar National Islamic Society is the political wing of the Al Eslah Society in Bahrain, associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. A Sunni Islamist party, it is well organised through a network of mosques and seek to promote a conservative social agenda while not directly challenging the...
. Ms Al Mutawa pledged to campaign on securing adequate housing, providing medical insurance, helping the unemployed and promoting the personal status law
Women's political rights in Bahrain
Women’s political rights have been a cornerstone of the political reforms initiated by King Hamad with for the first time women being given the right to vote and stand as candidates in national elections after the constitution was amended in 2002...
.
Ameenah Al Hassan
Ameenah Al Hassan was a candidate in the sixth constituency in the Northern GovernorateNorthern Governorate
The Northern Governorate is one of the five governorates of Bahrain. It includes parts of the former municipalities of Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah al Shamaliyah, Jidd Haffs and Madinat Hamad....
.
Siham Al Bubshait
Siham Al Bubshait stood in the second constituency of the Southern GovernorateSouthern Governorate
The Southern Governorate is the largest of the five governorates of Bahrain. It includes parts of Bahrain's old municipalities - Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, and Juzur Hawar...
.
Shahzaleen Khamees
Lawyer Shahzaleen Khamees ran for the National Unity Bloc, an alliance backed by the Left-wing Democratic BlocDemocratic Bloc
Democratic Bloc was a political alliance and an electoral bloc in Ukraine founded during the election campaign to participate in the parliamentary election held during March 4-18, 1990.-History:...
, in the capital, Manama
Manama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...
.
Sabah Al Dosari and Khadija Al Kahtani were also known to be women candidates in this election.
External links
- Long fight for female candidates, Gulf News, 14 October 2006