Bahrain plans municipal elections with participation of women

Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa, has announced the revival of municipal elections, "with various social groups participating, and women casting their votes alongside men."

In a speech he gave on the occasion of the National Day of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad called on writers to "express freely citizens' aspirations," urging the officials in the state to accept "constructive criticism."

He said, "The homeland's arms will remain open to embrace all its loyal citizens. When we open the way to everyone who wishes to return and join the march of construction, we are paving a wide road for the unity of national action among all our people in this advancing country."

He stated that Bahrain has decided to revive the municipal election system "which Bahrain had pioneered in the region since the early twentieth century" and with women casting their votes on equal footing with men.

Sheikh Issa continued he hopes this Consultative Council "will witness further development inspired by its experience in order to deepen popular participation in decision-making, and broaden the horizons of cooperation between Government and society so as to further the interests of the homeland and all citizens, of various origins and sects, a policy which we have affirmed and continue to affirm that all citizens are equal before the law, and have equal rights and duties within the framework of our national unity."