SAUDI WOMEN QUESTION THE RIGHT TO VOTE OUTSIDE THE

UNCLAS RIYADH 002362 SIPDIS SIPDIS G/IWI FOR ANDREA BOTTNER; NEA/ARP FOR BRIAN SHUKAN, ROBERT JACHIM; DRL/NESCA FOR JESSICA LIEBERMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL KWMN SA SUBJECT: SAUDI WOMEN QUESTION THE RIGHT TO VOTE OUTSIDE THE KSA ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: According to the English language daily "Arab News" Saudi female students in the UK and Ireland were denied entry to the General Body of Saudi Clubs, 27th general committee elections. The elections took place on Saturday, November 17. According to media reports, the women who were denied access to the elections are members of their local clubs. Reports indicate they are upset that they could not vote or nominate themselves for local and national board committees. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The General Body of Saudi Clubs is an organization that overlooks the activities of Saudi student clubs that are dotted across the UK,s universities and colleges organizing events and providing assistance to Saudi students. Mainstream media reported that less than 24 hours before the elections, the female members received an e-mail from the organizers of the meeting stating that women were not allowed to attend or vote because the club does not allow women at the meeting. After women pressured the organizers, they were granted access to the meeting but not given the right to vote. Despite this last minute access, it still arrived too late for any of the female members to take advantage of the opportunity. ¶3. (U) PhD student Muhammed Al-Asheikh at the University of Leeds and current president of the body, told "Arab News" that before the women can attend the meeting, vote, or even nominate themselves, the General Body of Saudi Clubs must officially address the issue. He also added that women have not participated in any of the meetings since its inception. Furthermore, he reportedly encouraged women to take part in the elections describing it as a high priority. However, according to the media, when asked most participants voted against the idea of women attending the meeting. Ahmed Malibary, former president of the organization, stated that five years ago an attempt to have female students as links between the "Higher Commission for Saudi Schools and Clubs" and female students for events that target women was unsuccessful. He added that it was "probably not a good time." ¶4. (U) Illham Qattan, the only Saudi female student to hold a position in the General Body of Saudi Clubs, told "Arab News" that the event was not organized properly and that is why women were not allowed to attend. She added that some female students are "impulsive" and are not aware that such "progressive" steps must be taken gradually. Furthermore, she noted that because of the support from the Saudi Embassy and bureau, imposing new concepts must be based on "certain rules" in order to succeed. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Women are largely precluded from political life on any level, whether in Saudi Arabia or abroad. Organization leaders-- and even the lone female member-- continued efforts to minimize the leadership role of women even during a time of change and modernization in the SAG, is indicative of the difficulty to change Saudi societal perceptions as well as potentially the difficulty in succeeding to include women in the next municipal elections inside the Kingdom: a goal often cited by the SAG. END COMMENT. GFOELLER