http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=103731&d=19&m=11&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
The Middle East's Leading English Language Daily
Monday 19 November 2007 (09 Dhul Qa`dah 1428)
Women Denied Vote in UK Club Elections
Lulwa Shalhoub, Arab News -
JEDDAH, 19 November 2007 - Saudi female students in the UK
and Ireland have expressed disappointment at being refused entry to the General
Body of Saudi Clubs' 27th general committee elections, which took place on
Saturday at the King Fahd Academy in London.
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.
"I personally spoke to the Saudi cultural attaché, Abdullah
Al-Nasser, before the elections. He welcomed the role of Saudi female students
in voting and attending meetings for the General Body of Saudi Clubs," said
Maram Meccawi, a PhD student at Nottingham University and a member of the Saudi
Club in Nottingham.
Meccawi said that she also recently met Custodian of the Two
Holy Mosques King Abdullah at the Saudi Embassy, who was keen to know the needs
of females students needs and support them to be active members.
The women who have been denied access to the elections are
members of their local clubs and are upset that they have been denied the right
to vote, and nominate themselves for local and national board committees.
Less than 24 hours before the elections, students received an
email from the organizers of the meeting saying that female students were not
allowed to attend or vote because the General Body of Saudi Clubs is not used
to having women at the meeting. After pressure from women, another email was
sent saying that women could attend. However, no women did as the email was
sent out late.
Eng. Muhammad Al-Alsheikh, PhD student at the University of
Leeds, was elected president of the body. He told Arab News that the issue of
having women attending the meeting, nominating themselves and voting has to be
referred to be officially addressed by the General Body of Saudi Clubs. He
added that women have not participated in the body since its inception.
"We encourage women to take part in elections and want to
allow them the opportunity to do so. this is something of high priority," said
Al-Alsheikh.
However, a vote was held at the meeting over the issue of
whether women should be allowed to attend the annual meeting. Most participants
voted against the idea.
Ahmed Maliebary, a PhD student and lecturer in English
language at Nottingham University, who was also previously a general president
of the organization, said, "Voting was random and was done through the raising
of hands without ascertaining whether those voting had the right to vote. Not
all members of Saudi clubs are allowed to vote. It looked like most of the
attendees were against women attending and voting," he said.
Maliebary added that efforts were made five years ago when he
was president to have female students as links between the "Higher Commission
for Saudi Schools and Clubs" and female students for events that target women.
"The attempt was unfortunately unsuccessful. Maybe the timing was not good," he
said.
However, Ilham Qattan, the only female Saudi student to hold
a position in the General Body of Saudi Clubs, said women were not allowed to
attend the meeting as a result of the event being badly organized.
"The Saudi cultural attaché is on our side and does not mind
the existence of women in these meetings. They actually meet throughout the
year," said Qattan, who was appointed coordinator last year.
She added that some female students are impulsive and are not
aware that these steps must be taken gradually. "Imposing new concepts must be
gradual in order to succeed and be based on certain rules, especially that we
are supported by our embassy and Saudi bureau. The decision of women voting and
attending the annual general elections is there but it needs to be well
directed and will be implemented hopefully during this round," she said.
Qattan is responsible for updating Saudi students of all news
and regulations concerning them. She said that there are around 5,650 Saudi
male students and 350 female students in Great Britain.
Princess Fadwa bint Khaled, wife of the Saudi Ambassador in
London, Prince Muhammad ibn Nawwaf ibn Abdulaziz, will meet Saudi students in
an opening informal meeting. Princess Fadwa will listen to their enquiries and
discuss problems
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