Wow! Saudi Woman Wins Seat In Historic Election

A Saudi woman has won a municipal council seat in the country’s first elections open to female voters and candidates.

Salma bint Hizab al Oteibi beat seven men and two men in Madrakah, a district in the holy city of Mecca, according to the country's election commission.

More than 5,000 men and around 980 women stood as candidates, with more than 130,000 women registered to vote compared to 1.35 million men.

Men and women were segregated at polling stations on Saturday and during campaigning in the kingdom, which has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women.

Women said voter registration was hindered by
bureaucratic obstacles, a lack of awareness of the process and its significance, and the fact they could not drive to sign up due to a driving ban.

Saudi Arabia was the last country to give women the vote after a decision was taken by the late Saudi King Abdullah in 2011.

The ground-breaking result is expected to pave the way for a slow expansion of women’s rights but women still face hurdles in everyday life.

They require permission from male family members to travel, work or marry and must cover themselves from head to toe in public.

Only two other provinces have announced their results so far and no women were successful there.

The first municipal elections - where only men could participate - were held in 2005.

Council powers are restricted to local matters, including responsibility for streets, public gardens and rubbish collection.

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