First municipal elections law in Qatar
Qatar, Politics, 7/21/1998

Ruler of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani on Monday released a law providing for organizing the Central Municipal Council, considered the first of its kind in the country.

The prince also enacted a decree concerning the Central Municipal Council Members' Election System, Qatar News Agency reported.

The new election law permits women to vote and to run for office. Candidates must be at least 25 years old and Qatari nationals. Naturalized citizens whose fathers are Qatari nationals may also run, but members of the police or defense forces are not eligable, QNA said.

MENA reported that recently the municipal council election law in Qatar has raised vast controversy in various social circles. Such controversy was mostly raised by public figures who refused to give women the right to run for office or vote. They formulated their stand in a memorandum of protest submitted to the ruler of Qatar.

A national committee was formed to prepare women for elections. The committee is chaired by Aesha Bint Khaleifa al-Thani, sister of Sheikh Hamad.

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