For the First Time, Women Won in Saudi Elections

In elections in Saudi Arabia where women participated for the first time, women secured 17 seats in local councils. This was the first time women were allowed to vote and run as candidates in elections. According to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, 17 women successfully gained seats in local council elections across various regions of the country. Among the initial vote counts, Salma bint Hizab al-Otaibi was announced as a member of a local council in the Madarika neighborhood of Mecca. Ms. al-Otaibi succeeded in obtaining a seat in Madarika while all other seats in that local council went to men. Voting for the local council elections in Saudi Arabia took place on Saturday, marking the first time women were allowed to run. The elections were held to elect 284 representatives to city councils, with over 900 female Saudi citizens among nearly 7,000 candidates. Additionally, out of 1.5 million people registered to participate and vote in the city council elections, about 120,000 were women. Saudi Arabia has a population of approximately 31 million. However, while women were allowed to participate in these elections, they still face widespread restrictions, including the lack of the right to drive in the country. Saudi Arabia is an absolute Islamic monarchy. The first city council elections in the country were held in 2001, with only male participation.