DAMMAM — Female candidates trying their luck in the upcoming municipal elections are opposing the supreme election committee's decision to ban their direct contact with voters terming it as "discriminatory and unacceptable." The committee suggested that female candidates hire representatives to deal with voters and public relations companies to manage their promotional campaigns. Female candidates were also banned from entering men's sections at the location of their electoral campaigns. But female candidates and their supporters are demanding a revision of the decision to guarantee equal rights during the campaigning phase. The decision, several candidates said, caused a lot of frustration among women who see their participation as a genuine opportunity to contribute to decision-making. Female candidates were shocked by the committee's decision to set a penalty of SR10,000 for violations. The candidates will also be billed the fees for the companies the committee hires to manage their campaign. Nasima Al-Sada, a candidate, said financial penalties are against the bylaws of the election campaign. The bylaws, she said, ensures a candidate's right to meet with his or her voters. She asked how would equality be achieved during the election process when female candidates are banned from meeting face-to-face with voters and talk about their election program. She stressed that including women into the election process should integrate women into society and not isolate them. Muna Al-Husain, an employee, thought that the ban sabotages the experience of women's participation in elections. "The decision must be reviewed," she said. Nawal Al-Ramadan, a nurse, said that the financial penalty is an obstacle that prevents women from participating in municipal elections. Zahraa Al-AbdulKarim, a teacher, said that the experience of female members of the Shoura Council must be duplicated successfully in other areas of women's participation in their society. Voting to choose 284 municipal councils all over the Kingdom begins on Dec. 12 and the results will be announced the same day.
