Bahraini women criticise favouritism

The growing trend of giving top jobs in the country on the basis of family and tribal links yesterday came under criticism by Bahraini women taking part in a seminar being held in Manama on the the democratic transformation in Bahrain.

The participants also highlighted the need to educate and encourage women to assert their political, economic and social rights to grasp the opportunity thrown open to them and make their own contributions for the overall growth of the country.

Addressing the three-day seminar organised by the Al Oruba Club here, Dr Sabika Al Najjar, Secretary General of Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) said: "It is time that talent and skill were respected rather than preserving top jobs to those hailing from well-known families and those with tribal links.

"This has been a very dangerous trend in the region leading to the suppression of talents which in turn deprives Bahrain of skill which is essential for the progress of any country."

Dr Sabika told Gulf News later: "We have plenty of talented, skillful and highly qualified people around us. They need to be given their due recognition and positions so that they make their contributions in their own fields which in turn would help the overall growth of the country in a very competitive, smooth and healthy manner.

"This is good for the society and the country. But what is happening now is that top jobs everywhere are preserved to people, be they qualified or not and suitable or not, with family and tribal connections. This not only deprives the qualified and skilled people of their opportunities and rights, but also retard the progress of the country."

Dealing with the topic" traditional structure and political affiliation", Dr Sabika pointed out during the seminar that tribalism in the island has changed for worse since early 1990s as the mentality on this issue has become negative.

"The situation is such that people are being evaluated on the basis of their families and tribal roots and some people are even changing their names or even writing their names to show they have some tribal root thinking this would help them achieve their goals in life".

"This is very dangerous and opportunities should be thrown open on the basis of skill, qualification and justice if democracy is to take flourish," said Dr Sabika.

Meanwhile, the well-known journalist Samira Rajab told the seminar yesterday: "There are two main aspects of women's rights in Bahrain-political will to provide the opportunities for women to play their role equally as men, and the constitutional mechanism already provided by the new constitution."

She pointed out that there should be social changes in the island if women were to enjoy their rights to play an equal role in the society.

To begin with the mindset in the society with regard to women's position needs to change in keeping with the changing need of the time. In every aspect of life, men and women should be treated on an equal footing and this should begin with social rights which, she described, as the gate to enjoy political and economic rights.

"If women were kept suppressed due to customs and traditions, how then could they enjoy the political and economic rights offered to them?" asked Samira, while talking to Gulf News.

She pointed out that women are hesitant to fully participate in public life not because they do not like to do so, but because the obstruction posed by the deeply-rooted customs and traditions and the social structure practiced by some elements of society which could even be described as "cultural terrorism against women."

"The situation is that men need to accept the change taking place in his traditional role towards family and society at large to ensure women play their due role. After all, democracy is basically a way of social life and we need to change our way of thinking in a manner that respects democracy, respect the others views, rights, religion freedom and the like."

Highlighting the need for new laws to address the desires and aspirations of Bahraini women, Dr Munira Fakhro of Bahrain University called for new legislations that would address the needs of Bahraini women to ensure they not only feel the change, but to be equal to men.