Saudi Arabia votes in first female councillor | Dayz Entertainment
 

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Saudi Arabia has elected its first female councillor, after women were allowed to vote in the country for the first time.

Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi won a seat on the municipal council in Mecca province in Saturday's vote, according to the president of the election commission, Osama al-Bar.

Although Saudi women still have a number of restrictions put on their daily lives - including driving – the change in the kingdom is seen as a landmark decision.

Officials said around 130,000 women had registered to vote compared with 1.35 million men, and 978 women and 5,938 men had registered as candidates.

The remaining disparity is said believed to be down to bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of transport.

Despite the change in the system, female candidates were not allowed to address male voters directly while campaigning.

The election was only the third one in Saudi history – with none held for 40 years between 1965 and 2005.
The late King Abdullah made the decision before he died in January, alongside appointing 30 women to the country's top advisory Shura Council.

In announcing the reforms, he said women in Saudi Arabia "have demonstrated positions that expressed correct opinions and advice".

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