Bahrain election 2006 women candidates

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.

History of women in local politics

In March 1999 Sheikh 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. [

cite news
title=Bahrain
work=United Nations Development Programme
url=http://www.pogar.org/countries/civil.asp?cid=2
date=2007-03-29

] 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. [

cite news
title=Middle East Intelligence Bulletin
work=Political Reform in Bahrain: The Price of Stability
author=Nadeya Sayed Ali Mohammed
url=http://www.meib.org/articles/0209_me1.htm
date=2007-03-28

] 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. [

cite news
title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2000
work=U.S Department of State
url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/nea/781.htm
date=2007-03-29

] 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. [

cite news
title=Understanding Bahrain's Third Parliamentary Elections
work=Women and the Elections
url=http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/iranian.studies/Policy%20Brief%202.pdf
date=2007-03-28

format=PDF] [

cite news
title=Bahrain women fail in landmark poll
work=BBC News online
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1978978.stm
date=2007-03-28

]

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. [

cite news
title=Bahrain
work=Bahrain
url=http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/NISPAcee/UNPAN016025.pdf
date=2007-03-28

format=PDF]

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. [

cite news
title=Bahrain
work=United Nations Development Programme
url=http://www.pogar.org/countries/civil.asp?cid=2
date=2007-03-29

] 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. [

cite news
title=Election and Democracy
work=Bahrain Brief: November 2006 - Vol. 7 Issue 11
url=http://www.bahrainbrief.com.bh/english/Nov%202006/current-Nov1.htm
date=2007-03-28

] [

cite news
title=UNDP funds women candidacies in Bahrain poll
work=Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
url=http://www.bahrainrights.org/node/659
date=2007-03-28

]

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'. [

cite news
title=Women candidates receiving threats in Bahrain
work=Dhimmi Watch
url=http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/013696.php
date=2007-03-28

] [

cite news
title=Women candidates receiving threats
work=Khleej Times Online
url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/October/middleeast_October366.xml&section=middleeast&col=
date=2007-03-28

] [

cite news
title=Text messaging threats against women candidates in upcoming elections
work=AsiaNews.it
url=http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=7572
date=2007-03-29

]

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. [

cite news
title=Bahrain Center for Human Rights
work=Text messaging threats against women candidates in upcoming elections
url=http://www.bahrainrights.org/node/782
date=2007-03-30

]

Leading female candidates

Only one of the eighteen women running in this election won a seat. Where run-offs are mentioned, these took place on December 2. [

cite news
title=Shiite opposition party wins 16 seats
work=Electionguide.org
url=http://www.electionguide.org/country-news.php?ID=18
date=2007-03-29

] Below is a non-comprehensive list of some of the women candidates in the election.

Lateefa Al Gaood

Lateefa Al Gaood 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. [

cite news
title=Bahrain's woman candidate gets a boost after two opponents quit race
work=Gulfnews
url=http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10075498.html
date=2007-03-28

] 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. [

cite news
title=Bahrain Elects Woman To Parliament, A Gulf First
work=Bahrain: Gateway to the Gulf
url=http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10075498.html
date=2007-03-29

] 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. [

cite news
title=Womengateway
work=Dr Munira Fakhro hopes for better future
url=http://www.womengateway.com/enwg/News/Political+News/2006/October/Women+Empowerment.htm
date=2007-03-29

] 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. [

cite news
title=Bahraini.tv
work=A rebel with a cause
url=http://bahraini.tv/?p=421
date=2007-03-29

]

Fawzia Zainal

Head of Programmes at Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation, 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:::"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." [

cite news
title=Bahrain Tribune as found at Gulf Research Centre
work=The Age online
url=http://corp.gulfinthemedia.com/gulf_media/view_article_en_print.php?id=266113&action=save
date=2007-03-30

]

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 Kuwaiti religious leaders oppose the participation of women in elections,' said Fawzia whose posters were defaced and tent vandalised." [

cite news
title= 14 more candidates withdraw from polls
work=Gulfnews.com
url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/11/17/10083213.html
date=2007-03-30

]

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. [

cite news
title=Quota system 'a step backwards'
work=Womengateway
url=http://www0.womengateway.com/en/default.asp?action=article&id=2661
date=2007-03-30

]

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." [

cite news
title=OR AT LEAST POLITICALLY RETARDED:
work=Brothersjudd.com
url=http://brothersjuddblog.com/archives/2006/11/or_at_least_pol.html
date=2007-03-30

]

Moza Sabt

Moza Sabt is an ex-teacher who stood in Muharraq. During her campign she said:::"Only good education prepares people for the future. When a person is educated, it is much easier to face problems like unemployment" [

cite news
title=Christian and three women to contest Bahrain election
work=AsiaNews.it
url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=7681
date=2007-03-30

]

Hoda Al Mutawa

Hoda Al Mutawa was a candidate in conservative Muharraq, 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.

Ameenah Al Hassan

Ameenah Al Hassan was a candidate in the sixth constituency in the Northern Governorate.

iham Al Bubshait

Siham Al Bubshait stood in the second constituency of the Southern Governorate.

hahzaleen Khamees

Lawyer Shahzaleen Khamees ran for the National Unity Bloc, an alliance backed by the Left-wing Democratic Bloc, in the capital, Manama.

Sabah Al Dosari and Khadija Al Kahtani were also known to be women candidates in this election.

References

ee also

*Bahraini parliamentary election, 2006

External links

* [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/10/14/10074647.html Long fight for female candidates] , Gulf News, 14 October 2006