Two Saudi businesswomen have swept to a surprise victory in chamber of commerce elections in the first polls in which women stood as candidates in the conservative Muslim kingdom. "I am happy, but I am still under shock," Lama al-Suleiman, one of the two winners, said.She was summing up the feelings of many election activists and watchers who had expected, at best, one woman to be elected to the board of directors of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "It is a big leap for Saudi women, an answer to what people want," said Suleiman, a 39-year-old mother of four. Suleiman and fellow female winner Nashwa Taher ran on a list of heavyweight business people and industrialists which clinched the 12 board seats up for grabs.
With only 100 women among the some 3880 chamber members who cast ballots, the pair's victory was effectively handed to them by men. "This means there is trust (in women). Professionalism is very important ... And this is my message to Saudi women: take your work seriously, without forgetting your role as a mother and wife," said Taher, who helps run a group of family companies with interests ranging from foodstuffs to contracting.