Habib Toumi

Islamic Action Society (Amal) has linked its participation in the forthcoming legislative elections with the chances of winning a seat in parliament, reports have said.

The society that appeals mainly to Shiite followers of Ayatullah Hadi Al Mudarrisi and who are known as “the Shirazi faction”, boycotted the elections in 2002 and 2006, ostensibly calling for more constitutional reforms.

Its general assembly last week re-elected its politburo, but did not announce a decision whether it would contest in the municipal or parliamentary elections expected either in October or November.

Al Wefaq won 17 seats in the 2006 elections, a landslide victory that had surprised most observers, including leaders of the society who had expected a maximum of 14 wins. continue reading…

Othman Shareef

Bahrain’s business community is mulling the formation of a political society that will allow it to enter the parliament and help promote its views and interests.

The formation of the society is one of several options being considered by Bahrain Chamber for Commerce and Industry (BCCI) to have a greater say in the debate of the parliament’s lower chamber, Othman Shareef, the chamber’s treasurer, said.

“There are several ideas being debated right now, and we hope that we will have a final decision within two weeks in order to select our candidates and announce the programme way ahead of the elections date,” he said. An ad-hoc committee has been set up to coordinate ideas and action for the elections.

The candidates will not be BCCI members and Othman Shareef said that he would not run even if he is pressured by the chamber.

“The committee is tasked with presenting views on the elections and on the selection of the candidates and constituencies. The BCCI will not be involved,” he said.

The BCCI had said that it intended to field candidates in six or seven constituencies and that it would support them in various ways. It attributed its decision to the need for a greater representation of the business community in the lower chamber, perceived as not being business friendly. continue reading…

Woman's elections poster: the husband's picture and the brother-in-law's name

An Iraqi woman running in the March elections has appealed to voters to back her up, but put the picture of her husband instead of her own on her campaign poster. She also identified her brother-in-law to capitalise on his name.

 “Elect the one who is part of you … Mrs Shadha Razzaq Al Sultani … Wife of Ahmad Shaikh Jassem … Brother of Shaikh Malek,” the woman, also known as Um Sajed, wrote on the poster next to the picture of her husband wearing a two-piece suit and a tie.

 The poster, posted on Iraqi websites, drew sarcasm and scorn from readers who wondered how the woman would attend the parliament sessions if she ever got elected.