It is an oft-heard complaint that in Riyadh there is little
to do. When the excitement of shopping dims, what are one’s options? I’ve found
Haya Tours to offer some interesting tours for exploring the sites and culture
of Riyadh. One of the more unusual tours I have taken is a trip to the Majlis
Al-Shura Council, the consultative assembly in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is classified as an absolute monarchy which
means that King Abdullah has the supreme authority over the country but must
comply with Sharia law as well as the Qur’an. The Majlis Al-Shura Councils operates as a
consultative council to the king. For most expats, this form of government is
very different from the governments of their home countries. I found it very
enlightening to tour the Majlis Al-Shura Council and learn more how this
council operates and functions within the government.
We went to the Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, a beautiful and
lavishly decorated building where we were met by one of the women working in
the building. She ushered us to a comfortable room where we watched a video
about the Majlis Al-Shura Council. We were shown around the building, allowed
to take pictures in some of the rooms, and even sat in the desks reserved for
council members. I enjoyed a walk through a long corridor chronicling the
history of the Majlis Al-Shura Council since its beginning in 1927. There were
several interesting photographs spanning the 90 years of history, along with
documents written in flowing Arabic. We toured a beautiful library filled with
thousands of volumes of books devoted to law, science, and history. The last
stop of the tour took us to glass-partitioned balcony where we watched a
portion of the council proceedings and our presence was acknowledged by the
council members.
While the Majlis Al-Shura Council cannot pass laws it can
and does suggest laws to the king, has the authority to interpret laws, and
examines annual reports. King Abdullah appoints members to the council and
chooses men from around Saudi Arabia who represent three major groups, business,
religious, and bureaucracy. Council
members are well-educated and well-respected in their communities both inside
and outside the Kingdom. Currently 70% of the 150 council members hold PhDs.
When selected by the king council members must serve one term of four years and
a maximum of three terms, with the option to decline further service after their
first term. During their service on the council, members are expected to attend
council sessions twice a week with additional meetings for any of the twelve
committees on which they sit. Council members are paid half their salary from
their outside employment while the government provides the other half.
A new term has begun and with it a big
change. In 2011 King Abdullah announced that women may be included in the
council. Thirty well-educated women have been called fill thirty council seats. This is an historic occasion worthy of note and thought. This presents an interesting development in Saudi Arabia’s history
and will surely have an impact on the larger Saudi culture.
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