Women on 3 Shoura panels

Faris Al-Qahtani
Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — It was a historic day for women in Saudi Arabia as 30 members took their seats in the Shoura Council to attend the activities of its sixth session here, Sunday.

Three women were named as deputy chairpersons of three committees. Dr. Thurayya Obeid was named Deputy Chairwoman of the Human Rights and Petitions Committee, Dr. Zainab Abu Talib, Deputy Chairwoman of the Information and Cultural Committee, and Dr. Lubna Al-Ansari, Deputy Chairwoman of the Health Affairs and Environment Committee.

Dr. Lubna Al-Ansari said: “The functions of the committees is to discuss reports, regulations, rules and international agreements.”

Last Tuesday, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah opened the activities of the first year of the Sixth Session of the Shoura Council.

The 150 members of the Shoura, including 30 women for the first time in history, were sworn in before King Abdullah at his palace.

Addressing the Shoura members, King Abdullah said: “I am happy to meet you in the opening of the first year of the Sixth Session of the Shoura Council, in which a woman participates. I pray to Almighty Allah to bestow on you wise opinion and consultation.”

The King outlined the goal of the Shoura, saying, “Our concerted goal is based on the trust in Allah Almighty to help you activate the work of the Shoura with the most rational thinking without any hasty move and noisy uproar. The development for which we all are striving at must be gradual. You know that your place in the Shoura is not simply an honor but that of one charged with duty and representing all sections of Saudi society.

Therefore, this job has its own responsibility,” the King said, calling the members to show reasoning in their discussions and allow rationality to prevail in issues it has to deal with.
King Abdullah appointed 30 women to the Shoura on Jan. 11.