Saudi polls: Woman wins council seat

Dec-14(Rakesh Thakur)

A Saudi woman won a municipal council seat in the country’s first ever election open to female voters and candidates, Sunday in a milestone result for the ultra-conservative kingdom. Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected to the council of Madrakah, in the holy city of Mecca.She was running against seven men and two women.

Saudi Arabia during Saturday’s vote. Among the 6,440 candidates were more than 900 women, who overcame a number of obstacles to participate in the landmark poll. Female candidates could not directly meet any male voters during their campaigns.