Al-Riyadh rules out women's participation in the Shoura council

The chairman of the Saudi Shoura council Sheikh Muhammad Bin Jubeir on Monday ruled out appointing women in the council whose members ( all men) are appointed by the King.

Sheikh Bin Jubeir said that the membership of women in the Shoura council is not necessary. He stressed that Saudi women actually contribute, without attending the meetings of the Shoura council, in taking decisions.

He asserted during a conference held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of King Fahd's accession to the throne that the participation of the Saudi woman in decision making in the council actually exists.

He explained it is not important the form of participation as a member as the ultimate aim is to hear the specialized opinion from both the man and the woman, alike."

Sheikh Jubeir's statements were made in remarks to the participation of women experts at the invitation of the council in certain discussions, like that held on Monday on the high dowry in Saudi Arabia.