Alees Samaan

Alees Samaan is the first woman to chair a parliament in the Middle East when in April 2005 chaired Bahrain's upper house of parliament, the Consultative Council. Ms Samaan is a Christian (Greek Orthodox) Bahraini and one of four women to sit in the Consultative Council.

Women were only allowed to vote in Bahrain in 2002 when the Kingdom adopted wide ranging political reforms including the establishment of parliament, the release of all political prisoners and the encouragement of civil society. Women's political rights in Bahrain have been at the core of the reform process, while being a major issue of contention between liberals and the Islamist dominated opposition.

Women were allowed to vote and run in the 2002 elections in Bahrain.

External links

* [http://www.shura.gov.bh/en/default.asp?action=article&ID=41 Ms Saman's CV on Bahrain's parliament website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4462051.stm Bahraini woman chairs parliament]