Manama: The only woman among the four candidates vying for a vacant seat at Bahrain's lower chamber has expressed confidence she could carry the constituency that has voted exclusively for Islamists since 2002.
"I have a strong feeling that I can make a change in the difficult conditions that we are going through right now," Hind Bujeeri said after filing her papers as a candidate.
"I know the area very well and I am aware of the people's needs and aspirations, particularly thanks to my involvement in welfare activities. The women's political empowerment programme has also been a strong incentive in my decision to run in a competition based on competence and services to the nation."
The Eighth Constituency in the Governorate of Muharraq will next month elect the lawmaker who will replace former MP Ghanem Al Buainain who was last month named state minister for foreign affairs.
The constituency is seen as a fief of Al Asala, the expression of Salafism in Bahrain, and a win by Hind would be a historic breakthrough.
Islamists from Al Asala and the Islamic Tribune, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, fared badly in the 2010 parliamentary elections and both parties attributed their dismal performance to lack of cooperation and to limited communication with the people.
Abdul Rahman Bu Ali, Sameer Khadem and Mubarak Mukhaimar are the other candidates seeking to enter the 40-seat lower chamber.
"There is high hope that women can make it in the constituency and make the changes needed," Hind said.
Helping to reinforce security and stability is her top objective, she said.
"The people of Bahrain are a mixture of several components and the parliament has to work through all the tools it has to consolidate security and stability," she said.
The lower chamber has four women while the appointed 40-seat upper chamber has 11.
