Democracy in the Middle East: One small step (for men) in Saudi elections

Fix my streets (and my country)

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, many were celebrating the historic multi-party elections that took place in that city Wednesday, elections that the desert kingdom hadn’t seen (in any form) since brief experiments in the 1960’s. However, this vote was restricted not only to men, but also to half the seats available on the municipal councils (the others to be appointed by you know who), leaving voter registration sluggish. Despite those glaring shortcomings, this electio in other ways resembled those outside the Arab world, with expensive campaigns and ubiquitous posters and literature (some even arguing for the right of women to drive cars). Though Saudi Ambassador to Britain Prince Turki Al-Faisal explained to the BBC that women’s suffrage could come about within 4 years (some reports say sooner), he has described in the past that limitations on voting for women was a practical matter (the identity cards required to vote had only recently been made available to women and not widely distributed). “When you exclude 50% of the society and allow criminal prisoners to vote this is an insult to 9 million women,” said Saudi historian Hatoon Fassi. “Their message to us is that we’re not citizens, we’re not worthy, that we don’t exist.” Beyond this, many are suspicious of the Saudi royal family’s eagerness (or lack thereof) to relinquish power or worse (for them), to allow extremists a voice to sow further discontent. However, as with the recent Iraqi elections, many are seeing that enthusiasm for a multiparty vote may be underestimated in the Arab world and that extremists would not necessarily be brought to power. But lest anyone forget who’s in charge, no indications have been made that elections could ever progress to an extent to supplement or replace the absolute control the monarchy has over the country, possibly with America’s blessing. “America talks about political reform in Egypt, yet it wants Hosni Mubarak to be in power to pursue Mideast peace. It talks about reform in Saudi Arabia, yet it wants the royal family in place to preserve its oil interests,” adds Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a TV talk show host from the United Arab Emirates. For now, this vote is more about potholed streets than foreign policy. If ordinary Saudis continue to demand more, the change may become more real than symbolic. “What gives me most satisfaction”, says Prince Mansour bin Mitaab who helped organise the polls, “is that we now have Saudis in every town and province who know how to manage an election. The kingdom now has a system and a precedent for practising democracy.”

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com. He is based in London, England.