Riyadh: At least nine women won municipal council seats in Saudi Arabia's first ever election open to female voters and candidates, officials said today, in a milestone for the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom.
"Even if it was only one woman, we're really proud of that. Honestly, we weren't expecting anyone to win," said Sahar Hassan Nasief, a women's rights activist in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
But with 2,106 seats up for election, the nine women would comprise less than one per cent of Saudi Arabia's elected council membership.
She hoped women would be included among the one third of council seats which are appointed by the municipal affairs ministry.
Another woman, Hanouf bint Mufrih bin Ayid al-Hazmi, won in the northwestern region of Jawf, SPA said, adding that neighbouring Tabuk elected two women.
The duties of municipal councils are limited to local affairs including responsibility for streets, public gardens and garbage collection.
It was the last country to allow only men to vote, and polling stations were segregated during the ballot.
They had to overcome a number of obstacles to participate in the landmark poll.
Women voters said registration was hindered by factors including bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of transportation.
As a result, women accounted for less than 10 percent of registered voters.
According to election commission data, nearly 1.5 million people aged 18 and above signed up for the polls.
This included about 119,000 women, out of a total native Saudi population of almost 21 million.
Proud, Happy
At least two parts of the country reported a female turnout of around 80 percent, according to official data.
In the mountainous Baha region, female turnout was around 82 percent while about half the registered male voters cast ballots, data showed.
In neighbouring Asir, turnout was about 79 percent for women and 52 percent for men.
Female candidates expressed pride in running, even if they didn't think they would win, while women voters said they were happy at finally being able to do something they had only seen on television or in movies.
Nassima al-Sadah, an activist in the eastern city of Qatif, said the voting process itself took place relatively smoothly, unlike the registration.
Many female candidates used social media to campaign, but a handful of others, including women's rights activists, were disqualified from the process.
Oil-rich Saudi Arabia boasts modern infrastructure of highways, skyscrapers and ever-more shopping malls.
But women still require permission from male family members to travel, work or marry.
Ruled by the Al-Saud family of King Salman, Saudi Arabia has no elected legislature and faces intense Western scrutiny of its rights record.
A slow expansion of women's rights began under Salman's predecessor Abdullah who announced four years ago that women would take part in the 2015 municipal elections.
Men have voted since 2005 in the local polls.
"Even if it was only one woman, we're really proud of that. Honestly, we weren't expecting anyone to win," said Sahar Hassan Nasief, a women's rights activist in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
But with 2,106 seats up for election, the nine women would comprise less than one per cent of Saudi Arabia's elected council membership.
She hoped women would be included among the one third of council seats which are appointed by the municipal affairs ministry.
Advertisement
Another woman, Hanouf bint Mufrih bin Ayid al-Hazmi, won in the northwestern region of Jawf, SPA said, adding that neighbouring Tabuk elected two women.
Advertisement
The duties of municipal councils are limited to local affairs including responsibility for streets, public gardens and garbage collection.
Advertisement
It was the last country to allow only men to vote, and polling stations were segregated during the ballot.
Advertisement
They had to overcome a number of obstacles to participate in the landmark poll.
Advertisement
Women voters said registration was hindered by factors including bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of transportation.
As a result, women accounted for less than 10 percent of registered voters.
According to election commission data, nearly 1.5 million people aged 18 and above signed up for the polls.
This included about 119,000 women, out of a total native Saudi population of almost 21 million.
Proud, Happy
At least two parts of the country reported a female turnout of around 80 percent, according to official data.
In the mountainous Baha region, female turnout was around 82 percent while about half the registered male voters cast ballots, data showed.
In neighbouring Asir, turnout was about 79 percent for women and 52 percent for men.
Female candidates expressed pride in running, even if they didn't think they would win, while women voters said they were happy at finally being able to do something they had only seen on television or in movies.
Nassima al-Sadah, an activist in the eastern city of Qatif, said the voting process itself took place relatively smoothly, unlike the registration.
Many female candidates used social media to campaign, but a handful of others, including women's rights activists, were disqualified from the process.
Oil-rich Saudi Arabia boasts modern infrastructure of highways, skyscrapers and ever-more shopping malls.
But women still require permission from male family members to travel, work or marry.
Ruled by the Al-Saud family of King Salman, Saudi Arabia has no elected legislature and faces intense Western scrutiny of its rights record.
A slow expansion of women's rights began under Salman's predecessor Abdullah who announced four years ago that women would take part in the 2015 municipal elections.
Men have voted since 2005 in the local polls.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Trump Vice President Pick JD Vance Urges Voters To "Choose A New Path" "Meat, Potatoes" Guy Who Cooks Indian Food: JD Vance's Wife Describes Him Joe Biden's Covid Case Delivers Latest Blow to Hard-Luck Campaign Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Opposes Karnataka's Job Quota Bill, Minister Responds Meet Gagan, A Daily Wager Who Cracked IIT Despite All Odds Republican Vice President Pick JD Vance Salutes Trump Ahead Of Key Speech "No Systemic Failure": Exam's Body On NEET-UG Paper Leak Row Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.