Don't contest

A couple of female candidates have approached the Supreme Council for Women and filed a case after receiving threatening SMS’s which stated that they lacked the qualification to run the country and hold parliamentary positions.

Dr.Munira Fakhro contesting on behalf of the Wa’ad society said , “ We had to approach to the SCW after these messages were sent to some of the women candidates. There are some conservative scholars who are against women contesting the elections. This is not fair as it is an attempt to weaken the position of women candidates.”

She further said, “ Women are being purposely targeted so that they do not contest. Actions like this show that how tough it is for a women to make her mark in the male chauvinistic society. There are 18 women candidates who are contesting for the parliament and most of them are independent. This can affect their mindset and we need to address this issue and punish the culprit.”

Dr.Munira also urged the Ministry of Justice to intervene and investigate in the matter. “ We have confidence in the SCW which is chaired by Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa and actively works for the empowerment of women. The government should take immediate steps to curb this issue. We have no clue who is behind all these messages but there are rival candidates who are involving religious obligations in the matter as well as mixing and manipulating the issue.”


In the last elections, similar attempts were being made to threaten female candidates so that they step down. In the 2002 election, there were about 51% of women electorates compared with 49% of men while the second round of voting witnessed a 55% turn out. Considering the fact that there are more women voters than men in the kingdom, this new wave of messages has upset many women candidates. Lateefa Al Qaoud who created history by becoming the first women MP should be an example for the women candidates who have to fight it out and make it the parliament.