Bahrain: A Shoura council free from Islamists

The King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Saturday appointed the 40 members of the Shoura council, and therefore to complete the national council ( parliament) following the parliament's elections which took place in October.

The formation of the Shoura council came to balance the great victory achieved by the Islamists in the parliamentary elections, as this Shoura council -- appointed by the King -- is free from any representative for the Islamic societies, whereas women are granted a great share of the seats and six university teachers women and one doctor were appointed in this council.

The Christian and Jewish minorities were also represented in the Shoura council. The same with the former council appointed by King Hamad when he assumed power in Bahrain in 1999.