Gulf | Oman

No women in Shura this time

Several new faces got elected to Majlis Shura's 84 seats but there was no place for a woman in the sixth term of the Council that at best plays an advisory role to the government.

  • By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
  • Published: 12:23 October 28, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Sahar Al Kaabi is the founder of country's first and only women only café in Muscat.
  • Image Credit: Sunil K. Vaidya/Gulf News
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Muscat: Several new faces got elected to Majlis Shura's 84 seats but there was no place for a woman in the sixth term of the Council that at best plays an advisory role to the government.

"It is very sad," reacted Raheela Al Riyami, who finished third in Baushar constituency in her bid to get elected a third time.

She told Gulf News yesterday with not a single woman in the Council there won't be anyone to voice women's concerns at the Shura meetings.

Raheela, who has worked in the education sector for over 37 years, said she was elected the last two times not only to represent women but the entire wilayat (province) of Baushar. "We do represent our wilayat in Shura but we can talk about and give opinions on issues related to women," she said.

Sad but not disappointed

In the last two Shura terms two women representatives were elected and Raheela was one of them. This time 20 women contested the election.

Raheela stressed that although she was sad that no woman was in the Council, she was not disappointed. "There are a lot of other ways to serve the society," she said.

Barka Al Bakry, a social activist who champions the cause of the visually challenged, echoed Raheela's views. "It is indeed sad that not a single woman is elected to the Council. Instead of taking a step forward we have taken two steps backwards," she said.

She felt that candidates' inability to offer any kind of agenda put them back.

"I campaigned for Raheela and most voters wanted to know what she had done for the constituency and its voters or what she would do," she told Gulf News.

"We need transparency to take the democratic process forward. People want to know what the Shura members do for them. If they cannot be informed they will vote out candidates." She felt that several members failed to retain their seats this time. "Those who work need to inform people what work they have done or would do," she added.

But Barka added: "[As] they are fathers of women, brothers of women and husbands of women, men will take up issues relating to women." She pointed out that Oman was the first GCC state to make special efforts to get women elected to the Council. "We don't need women's votes to get women elected."

Sahar Al Ka'abi, who is the founder of the country's only women's cafe in Muscat, felt the Shura results showed the time has come to reserve a seat for women. "I think we should keep one seat reserved for women only so that we will ensure at leest one representative in the Council," she told Gulf News over phone from Syria where she is attending a conference on 'Women on Investing'.


Winners of Majlis Ashura's elections for the sixth term held on Saturday
No Name Wilayats
1 Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Shamsi Al Sinainah
2 Salim Bin Ali Al Kaabi Mahda
3 Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Harsousi Hima
4 Hashil Bin Hamad Al Jenaibi Daqam
5 Mubarak Bin Mohammed Bin Al Sanh Shaleem, Halaniyat Islands
6 Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Shahi Bakha
7 Mohammed Bin Saleh Bin Ali Al Badi Yanqul
8 Rashid Bin Ali Bin Ahmed Al Shahi Diba
9 Ahmed Bin Mohammed Baqi Rakhyout
10 Salim Bin Mohammed Al Hajri Bidiya
11 Said Bin Abdullah Al Kathiri Thumrait
12 Rajih Bin Sulaiman A'akak Dhalkout
13 Hamoud Bin Khalifa Al Rashdi Bausher
14 Hamoud Bin Abdullah Al Hassani Bausher
15 Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Maja'ali Masirah
16 Saleh Bin Mohammed Al Ma'amari Ibra
17 Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Harthy Al Qabil
18 Malik Bin Hilal Al Abri Al Hamra
19 Nasser Bin Hilal Al Ma'awali Wadi Al Ma'awil
20 Masallam Bin Ali Al Ma'ashani Taqa
21 Salim Bin Hamoud Al Maliki Wadi Bani Khalid
22 Marhoon Bin Masaud Al Ghaithi Al Buraimi
23 Rashid Bin Said Al Ghaithi Al Buraimi
24 Ibrahim Bin Hazhiz Zabanout Al Mazyona
25 Ali Bin Sulaiman Al Shibli Sohar
26 Said Bin Ghanim Al Maqbali Sohar
27 Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Saadi Madha
28 Al Khalil Bin Abdulrahim Al Kharousi Al Awabi
29 Nasser Bin Ali Al Mahrooqi Adam
30 Saif Bin Mubarak Al Rahbi Muscat
31 Saleh Bin Ibrahim Al Balushi Liwa
32 Salim Bin Manakhr Al Wahaibi Mahut
33 Saif Bin Sulaiman Al Harthy Bidbid
34 Abdullah Bin Said Al Saifi Nizwa
35 Salim Bin Mohammed Al Toobi Nizwa
36 Amer Bin Said Al Mashrafi Sur
37 Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Farsi Sur
38 Ahmed Bin Harith Al Hadi Al Amerat
39 Ahmed Bin Saud Al Ma'ashari Al Amerat
40 Salim Bin Nasser Al Alawi Mirbat
41 Salim Bin Amer Al Ameri Sadah
42 Masallam Bin Brokeen Al Masehali Maqshan
43 Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Kamzari Khasab
44 Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Shahi Bakha
45 Rashid Bin Said Al Harasi Nakhal
46 Ali Bin Salim Al Awaisi Ja'alan Bani Bu Hassan
47 Salim Bin Hamoud Al Maliki Wadi Bani Khalid
48 Hilal Bin Hamad Al Maja'ali Manah
49 Maktoum Bin Mattar Al Azizi Dhank
50 Nasser Bin Yasser Al Jenaibi Al Jazir
51 Talal Bin Rajab Al Matroshi Shinas
52 Yousif Bin Ahmed Al Balushi Shinas
53 Fuad Bin Ja'afar Sajwani Muttrah
54 Younis Bin Sabil Al Balushi Muttrah
55 Zayed Bin Khalfan Al Abri Al Rustaq
56 Khalid Bin Saif Al Ghafri Al Rustaq
57 Said Bin Salim Al Fazari Saham
58 Ali Bin Masallam Al Badi Saham
59 Said Bin Saif Al Ma'amari Dima Wal Taein
60 Hilal Bin Said Al Yahyaei Bahla
61 Badr Bin Ali Al Muani Bahla
62 Zayed Bin Khalifa Al Rashidi Izki
63 Hamoud Bin Said Al Ameri Izki
64 Mohammed Bin Jumah Al Raisi Seeb
65 Said Bin Saud Al Ameri Seeb
66 Mubarak Bin Amer Al Habsi Mudhaibi
67 Amer Bin Ali Al Shabibi Mudhaibi
68 Suhail Bin Ahmed Jaboub Salalah
69 Rasheed Bin Al Safi Al Auraibi Salalah
70 Mohammed Bin Said Al Kalbani Ibri
71 Ali Bin Abdullah Al Manthari Ibri
72 Salim Bin Khalid Al Rasheedi Suwaiq
73 Hamad Bin Khamis Al Jadidi Suwaiq
74 Said Bin Sulaiman Al Balushi Quriyat
75 Nasser Bin Malik Al Battashi Quriyat
76 Yasser Bin Hamoud Al Ma'amari Al Kamil Wal Wafi
77 Hamid Bin Mohammed Al Rawahi Sumayil
78 Khamis Bin Said Al Sulaimi Sumayil
79 Hamoud Bin Ali Al Saadi Ja'alan Bani Bu Ali
80 Hamad Bin Amer Bin Rashid Al Kasbi Ja'alan Bani Bu Ali
81 Ibrahim Bin Baqir Al Ajmi Khaboura
82 Omar Bin Ali Al Hosni Khaboura
83 Said Bin Mohammed Al Saadi Musanna
84 Ahmed Bin Essa Al Balushi Musanna

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