Woman’s life-long struggle leads to Saudi election breakthrough

Her uncle told her not to do it, but Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi ignored his advice and ran for election.

On Sunday she became the first woman to be declared the winner of a municipal council seat in the male-dominated Gulf kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“My whole life has been a struggle,” said Oteibi, from the small bedouin town of Mudrika outside the holy city of Mecca.

In an exclusive interview with AFP, she said she faced tough competition — including from her own relatives who were also standing — but still won a seat with 68 votes, 20 more than her rivals.

That was thanks to the support of women, even though Oteibi said she didn’t actively campaign.

Her biggest supporter is her husband, said the mother of two boys.

Original article by AFP

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Woman’s life-long struggle leads to Saudi election breakthrough

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