An Exceptional Royal Decree: Women Admitted To Shura Council
20 January 2013By Mshari Al-Zaydi
This was an exceptional royal decree. Saudi Arabia is
entering a new era in terms of its political and
social culture.
Earlier this week, the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, issued a royal
decree allowing Saudi women to contribute to the
state's decision-making process via the Shura Council.
This was followed by the announcement that 30 women,
for the first time, had been appointed as members of
the Shura Council.
Friday 11th January 2013 will go down as a historical
day in the life of Saudi women in particular, and in
Saudi politics, culture and society in general.
To those who do not know, any movement affecting the
issue of Saudi women is considered extremely sensitive
to the Saudi monarch, due to numerous cultural and
political considerations. In Saudi society, there are
certain figures seeking to ignite problems regarding
the issue of women, based on mistaken perceptions of
the historical nature and role of women in Arab and
Muslim society.
The language of Friday's royal decree was strong,
accurate and clear; accurate in terms of fully taking
into account religious and social mores in monitoring
this empowerment of women, particularly as the decree
was keen to confirm it was based on Islamic Sharia law
and that it complied ardently with general culture
regarding the issue of women. This was only natural
and to be expected from a leader that knows the nature
and culture of those he rules, and deals with them
with all respect, appreciation and faith, however at
the same time avoids anything that is not based on
approved Islamic doctrine or the correct reading of
history.
On the occasion of this historic date, it struck me
that included among the 30 women appointed to the
Shura Council is the prestigious researcher Dr. Dalal
bint Mekhled al-Harbi, the author of the book "The
Values of Women in the Arabian Peninsula", whose work
extensively examines the social, academic and
political roles of women in Najd and the wider Arabian
Peninsula. The most prominent example of these roles
was that of Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman, the sister
of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz.
She was highly active in her social and political
efforts, and King Abdulaziz often consulted her in
matters of public affairs and took on her advice.
Perhaps this was the inspiration behind King Abdullah
Bin Abdulaziz launching the largest female university
in Saudi Arabia under her name (Princess Nora Bint
Abdulrahman University).
The truth is that there is a clear element of
fabrication when it comes to the problems of women,
not only in Saudi society but in many Arab and Islamic
countries. This has a complex interpretive and
historical context, but this is not the time or the
place to talk about that.
If any rational person looked at the historical
reality and doctrinal opinion in the books that have
chronicled our civilization, they would see the major
roles of women starting from Aisha, who is known not
only from the Koran and the hadith but also due to her
political activity and participation in the Muslim
conquests, to other women throughout the ages,
specifically in the Arabian Peninsula. It is suffice
here to recall the role of Ghaliyya al-Wahhabiyya, a
woman from the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, who
resisted 18th century foreign invasion with great
bravery and is a well-known figure in Saudi history.
We can also not forget the role of Modi, the wife of
the first imam of the Saudi state, Mohammed Bin Saud,
who played an influential part in the story of his
historic alliance with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdul-Wahhab.
The inclusion of women in the Saudi Shura Council, in
partnership with men, engraves King Abdullah Bin
Abdulaziz's name into the stone of Saudi history in an
influential and eloquent manner, and it will never be
forgotten.
A Saudi journalist and expert on Islamic movements
and Islamic fundamentalism as well as Saudi affairs.
Mshari is Asharq Al-Awsat's opinion page Editor, where
he also contributes a weekly column. Has worked for
the local Saudi press occupying several posts at Al -Madina
newspaper amongst others. He has been a guest on
numerous news and current affairs programs as an
expert on Islamic.
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