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| Arabia |
| Soddy election results |
| 2005-04-24 |
| Islamist-backed candidates triumphed in the final round of Saudi Arabia's first nationwide elections, results showed Saturday, stamping the authority of religious scholars on the kingdom's fledgling reforms. From the commercial capital Jeddah to Islam's second holiest city of Medina, official figures showed a sweeping victory for candidates endorsed by conservative Muslim scholars, including government critics. Thursday's elections marked the third and final round of voting for municipal councils in the absolute monarchy, which has come under pressure to reform after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, carried out by mainly Saudi hijackers. Women were excluded from voting or standing in the elections and the councils will have half their members appointed by the state. The royal family is unlikely to see its powers eroded by the cautious step toward democracy. In the Red Sea port of Jeddah the seven candidates on a "golden list" endorsed by Muslim scholars won all seven seats, defeating 500 rivals in a show of religious influence which defied the city's relatively liberal tradition. The holy city of Medina returned six out of seven candidates supported by religious figures. Winners in the town of Buraida, heartland of Saudi Arabia's austere Wahhabi school of Islam, also appeared to have religious backing. As in the capital Riyadh two months ago, defeated rivals complained before votes were even cast that endorsing blocs of candidates violated election rules banning parties or coalitions. But their appeals met little sympathy. "We don't care about gold lists, silver lists or bronze lists," election official Abdullah al-Subail told Reuters. "What concerns us is the view of the voter." Subail said it was wrong to label the victorious candidates as Islamists because "we are all Muslims, there is no question of Muslims and non-Muslims." Saturday's results extend the earlier wins by Islamist-backed candidates in the capital Riyadh and the Gulf city of Dammam, demonstrating the dominance of religion -- at least in urban centers -- over tribal or business links. In Riyadh at least one victorious candidates won more than six times as many votes as his nearest rival. Despite the limited powers the councils are expected to wield, the elections still mark a significant milestone by giving Saudis a choice of their representatives and a platform during the campaign to air at least some local grievances. They have also helped ease pressure on the royal family which is battling a two-year wave of violence by al Qaeda militants fighting to expel Westerners from Saudi Arabia and overthrow the House of Saud. "They have created a channel through which people can express themselves," said one diplomat. "And the councils will be dealing with issues which affect people's daily lives." Last month the Sunni kingdom's minority Shi'ites flocked to the polling booths in the eastern region, winning seats in their stronghold of Qatif and the mixed area of Hofuf, but losing to Sunni-backed candidates in the urban center of Dammam. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |