Women to Be Kept Out of Shoura During Reshuffle
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News

JEDDAH, 10 February 2005 — Shoura Council President Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid has ruled out appointment of women on the consultative body during the upcoming Shoura reshuffle, when the number of its members will be increased from 120 to 150.

“The issue of women’s participation in the Shoura as a member has not yet been mooted officially, although some writers and social forums have raised the issue,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as telling reporters.

This article appears to put paid to the rumors that were circulating about women being appointed to the Shoura Council when it is reshuffled in the coming months. I think it is more, though.

It seems to me to be a trial balloon, taking the issue out of the realm of rumor and putting it out for public discussion. By having the President of the Shoura Council mooting the issue, it becomes something that now enters the public domain with a sense of political blessing.

I don’t know whether or not women will be appointed. This is something that will be discussed over tea in countless homes and cafés across the country.

Maybe public sentiment has shifted enough to allow it to happen easily. I rather doubt that. Maybe it’s shifted enough to permit the government to take the risk and appoint women and to ignore or assuage the unhappiness of those against it. Judging by what’s in the Saudi media, I think this somewhat likely.

But it could end up that this is simply an idea whose time has not yet come in Saudi Arabia. I hope not, but this is a conservative society, adverse to change, particularly when it upsets the social order.