Manama: King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa on Sunday congratulated Fatima Salman on becoming the first woman in Bahrain to get elected to a municipal council.
"Your win reflects the advances Bahrain has achieved towards further development and prosperity," King Hamad told Fatima in a personal cable of congratulations. "It is an outstanding result of our reforms that call upon ever Bahraini man and woman to contribute actively to the building of our beloved Bahrain," King Hamad said in the cable, carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
Fatima, an independent candidate, beat eight male contenders to clinch the much-coveted seat in Muharraq, the bastion of well-established conservative and liberal societies in Bahrain. Her win heralds more achievements for Bahraini women, King Hamad said.
The lower chamber of the bicameral parliament has only one woman while the upper chamber whose members are appointed by the king has 10 women.
