Pelosi Nudges Saudi Arabia to Give Women a Role in Politics

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Associated Press

NYT/AP: Pelosi Nudges Saudi Arabia to Give Women a Role in Politics
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 6, 2007

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 5 (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday visited Saudi Arabia’s unelected advisory council, the closest thing in the kingdom to a legislature, where she tried out her counterpart’s chair — a privilege not available to Saudi women because they cannot become legislators.

Ms. Pelosi, the first woman to serve as House speaker, said she raised the issue of the lack of women in Saudi politics with officials on the last stop of her Middle East tour, but she added that she refrained from criticizing the kingdom over it.

“It’s a nice view from here,” Ms. Pelosi said as she sat in the chair, facing the ornate chamber. She later sidestepped a question on how she felt about the absence of women on the Saudi council, saying: “I am very pleased that after 200-plus years in the U.S. we finally have a speaker. It took us a long time.”

The Majlis al-Shura, or Consultative Council, was expanded and given more powers in 1992 as a step toward forming a legislature. Its 150 members are chosen by the king and advise him, and the body has the power to propose laws for the government’s approval.

King Abdullah has spoken of reform, but change has been slow and limited. The kingdom, ruled according to the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, held its first elections in 2005, choosing local councils. Women were barred from voting or running for office....

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/06/world/middleeast/06pelosi.html

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Go Nancy! n/t

[donsu]

2. thank you Nancy, awarding gold star for standing up for Saudi women

Saudi men should be ashamed of their fear of women