There are nine women among 84 candidates who have signed up for the forthcoming bye-elections in Bahrain, due to be held on September 24, according to a statement issued by the Information Affairs Authority on Thursday. Almost all those who have submitted their candidacy have declared themselves as independent candidates. Submissions closed at midnight on Wednesday.
The Bahrain Elections Chief Executive, Abdullah Al-Buainain, said his office would produce an official list of the names, which will be running in the bye-election, in the next two days of candidates. Over the past three days, he said, we have received a strong response from candidates that has surpassed last year’s general election.
Eighteen of the 40 seats of Bahrain’s Lower House of Parliament are to be contested in the bye-elections following the resignation on February 27 this year from these seats by all the former Members of Parliament of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.
One of the women candidates, Sawsan Taqawi, is the head of public relations at the Bahrain General Organisation for Youth And Sports. Commenting on the significance of women’s participation in the elections, Sawsan Taqawi said “It’s more important than ever, the need for new blood and change.”
Another woman candidate, Dr. Somaya Al Jowder, is known as Bahrain’s Mother Teresa for work she does in support of people suffering from HIV/AIDS in the country. One of a group suffering from the disease whom she helps says, “Dr. Somaya treats everyone with love and care. I would be in jail or dead by now if she did not help me.”
The candidates come from diverse sections of society. There are professionals, such as doctors and engineers, and businessmen involved in many different fields. One candidate, Taqi Abdul Rasool Al-Zeera, is a prominent businessman, for instance, involved in real estate development. Another example of a male candidate is Yousif Abdulrahman Janahi, running as a candidate at the second Circle of the Northern Governorate.
The Government of Bahrain regrets the refusal of Al-Wefaq to take part in the bye-elections. In the constituency where Al-Wefaq has its headquarters, however, there are more candidates than in any of the other constituencies being contested, with a total of eight contestants.
The Government of Bahrain is urging voters to take part in the elections as possible, and the Supreme Committee for Supervising the Validity of the Elections has condemned incitements against the bye-elections. The Bahrain Minister of Justice, Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa, has warned that any threats to Bahrain’s elections will be a betrayal to the nation.