Saudi woman wins municipal council seat

In a historic moment for Saudi Arabia, a woman won a municipal council seat in the country’s first ever election open to female voters and candidates, an official said. This is asignificant milestone for the ultra-conservative Gulf monarchy, which is known for curbing freedom of women.

Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected to the council of Madrakah, in the city of Mecca, according to the official SPA news agency. The election commission president Osama al- Bar said, she was running against seven men and two women.

Saudi Arabia is known to have some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women, such as a ban on driving which has been one of the major issues making international headlines. The victory of Ms Oteibi would hopefully been an incremental step towards inclusion of women in governance.

Women accounted for less than 10 percent of registered voters and few female candidates are expected to be elected.

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