EDITORIAL: SAUDIS' ELECTION TRAVESTY
Saudi Arabia's first "nationwide" elections beginning in February 2005 will be an all-male affair. Women may neither vote nor run for office, according to Interior Minister Prince Nayef, who told a Kuwaiti newspaper, I don't think that women's participation is possible.
https://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,...98059,00.html
While one can see why there are concerns about allowing women to vote and run for office due to religious reasons, one only needs to look at India and Pakistan where the same discrimination against women was commonplace not too long ago, and the leaps and bounds that have been made to close the gap since. In Pakistan, there was even a recent female Prime Minister. My hope is that the day will come when the same is true for Saudia Arabia.
International Level: Envoy / Political Participation: 241 24.1%
SAUDI ARABIA MOURNS DEATH OF KING FAHD
Saudi Arabia announced the death of King Fahd on Monday and that his half-brother, Crown Prince Abdullah, has been named the country's new monarch.
Ref. https://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/200.rch-050801.html
This is a HUGE deal.
What do the Saudis know that the rest of the world does not? Do they have foreknowledge of terrorist activity, or some other shocking world event, that would cause them to retrieve $360 billion (yes, that's Billion with a B ) from around the world and bring it home for safety? Is it significant that this happens so soon after the king's death? Why is the mainstream media basically ignoring this event?
QUOTE |
Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters the government was working on returning these "national assets" back to the oil-rich Arab country and to attract foreign investments in Saudi Arabia. He said the kingdom has "established qualified institutions for that purpose," but did not elaborate. |
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 59.5%
SAUDI WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN ELECTION FOR FIRST TIME
Women in Saudi Arabia are taking part in an election, both as voters and as candidates, in a historic first for the kingdom.
Ref. https://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/200...udi-051128.html