JEDDAH: The Municipal Elections Appeal Committee has agreed to hear an appeal brought by Saudi woman Samar Badawi who last week had her legal claim to the right to vote dismissed by the Administrative Court in Jeddah. Badawi's lawyer Waleed Abu Al-Khair told Al-Hayat Arabic daily that the appeal was accepted on Sunday and the committee is expected to give its ruling early next week. He said his client is in the process of studying the official document of the court's rejection. Badawi herself said that she had gone to the Administrative Court – also known as the Board of Grievances – and appealed to the committee following the rejection of her claim. “They have registered my appeal,” Badawi said of the committee Sunday. “They asked me to study the court ruling closely and return to them in five day's time.” She described the move as “a good step forward”. “I am optimistic whatever the outcome, whether they reject it or approve it,” she said. Omar Al-Khouli, Chairman of the Elections Appeal Committee, said that it was the first appeal in the country brought to the committee by a woman, but added that he believed Badawi had not gone about her case in the best manner. “She did not request consultation before going to the Board of Grievances or before making her appeal with the committee,” he told Al-Hayat. Badawi's claim against the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs seeking the right for women to vote and run as candidates in municipal elections was made after election registration centers refused to register her name and those of other women. The claim was dismissed by the court last Wednesday on the grounds that it was “premature”. Badawi says that “there is nothing in the law barring women from registering as voters or election candidates”, and asked that the Board of Grievances “immediately suspend all election procedures until the court has ruled on the complaint” and “annul the administrative decision to bar me (Badawi) from my right to vote for and stand for election to the municipal councils, which is in breach of the relevant regulations”. The complaint further asked the court to “order the object of the complaint to permit me to take part in the elections, whether as a voter or as a candidate”.
