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