Democracy with an asterisk

At long last, the light of reform is beginning to shine over Saudi Arabia. Nationwide elections, the first in the Kingdom's history, are going to be held. The elections are set to begin next February and will last until April. Voters are going to choose half of the members of the 178 municipal councils. At long last, democracy is coming to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. But, there is a catch. There will be democracy--with an asterisk. 

Women will not be allowed to run for elections or vote themselves. Interior Minister Prince Naif announced such on October 11. According to the Associated Press, an electoral official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that there are not enough women to run "women-only" registration and polling centers. Moreover, very few women have the photo identity cards needed to cast their vote, because many of them did not want to have their faces unveiled on the cards. 

Yet, women were not barred solely because of administrative and logistical inadequacies. According to the General Committee for Municipal Elections, women cannot run for office because the law says only a muwatin can participate. The word muwatin means "citizen," and although the Arabic word is itself male-gendered, the meaning usually encompasses both males and females. Not so, according to the government. Since the law did not specifically state muwatinas, or female citizens, are allowed to participate, women therefore cannot vote.

How extremely disappointing. It is astonishing to me that the Saudi government would bar the participation of approximately 43% of its adult population on a legal technicality. Now, some may respond by saying that we in the United States had to amend the constitution more than four decades later so that women can be allowed to vote. That's true. Yet, the United States of America is not governed by the laws of Islam. From its very beginnings, the right of women to vote has been enshrined in Islamic law. 

The Qur'an praises the believers because they run their affairs by shura, or mutual consultation. There is no legal hair-splitting in the verse. Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took bay'ah, or an oath of allegiance, from both men and women, and voting is the modern-day equivalent of yesteryear's bay'ah. The Qur'an, in fact, specifically mentions the bay'ah of women: "O Prophet when believing women come to you to pledge allegiance to you..." (Quran 61:12). If God gave women the right to vote, how could the Saudi government take that right away?

I truly hope the Saudi government reconsiders its decision. Denying women the right to vote is not only unfair, but it goes against Islamic tradition. If there are not enough "women-only" polling places, then delay the elections until ones can be set up. If there are not enough women election workers, then issue a call for such workers, and I am sure many will enthusiastically respond. If Afghanistan can successfully include women in the electoral process, then surely Saudi Arabia--with its vast wealth from oil--can do the same. Not having enough "women-only" polling stations is not an excuse. Full participation by all citizens, both male and female, is the quintessential essence of democracy, and Islam calls for nothing less. Democracy should never come with an asterisk.

Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago physician and writer. He is author of "Why I Love the Ten Commandments," published in the book Taking Back Islam: American Muslims Reclaim Their Faith (Rodale Press), winner of the prestigious Wilbur Award for 2003 Best Religion Book of the Year by the Religion Communicators Council.