Bahraini Woman Chairs Shura Council

Alice Samaan made history on two counts yesterday when she chaired the Shura Council.She became the first woman and the first Christian to chair any Shura or parliamentary session in Bahrain and reportedly the Arab and Islamic world.

Ms Samaan took the chair after first vice-chairman Abdulrahman Jamsheer and second vice-chairman Mansoor bin Rajab left for the official opening of the Constitutional Court.

Mr Jamsheer chaired the first part of the session in place of chairman Dr Faisal Al Mousawi, who is abroad.

Council rules state that in the absence of the chairman and his two deputies, the oldest member should chair the session – in this case Ms Samaan.

“A women chairing the session is a clear example of the democracy we are witnessing here today in Bahrain,” said Ms Samaan.

“The council’s by-laws state that the oldest take the chair when the three top council members are absent, without mentioning gender and this by itself reflects Bahrain’s keenness to fight all types of discrimination,” she said.

Parliament legislative and legal affairs committee vice-chairman and Islamic Bloc president Ali Al Samaheeji said: “Bahrain has entered history and this shows we are well ahead of other countries.”