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Al Jazeera told the citizens of Qatar their experience of voting for the Shura Committee of the country’s advisory committee for the first time.
Doha, Qatar Qataris voted for two-thirds of the seats on the advisory committee in the country’s first legislative election on Saturday.
Eligible voters poured into polling stations in the Gulf countries throughout the day to elect 30 members of the 45-seat institution. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will continue to appoint the remaining 15 members of the council.
The candidates are mainly men, and out of 284 candidates, 29 women are running for 30 available council seats.
Participants must be approved by the Ministry of the Interior and must meet a series of criteria, including age and personality. The results are expected to be announced later on Saturday.
Previously, the committee mainly acted as an advisory body, but now it is expected to enjoy legislative power and approve general national policies.
The committee is expected to focus its attention on social issues such as health care, education and civil rights.
There are approximately 333,000 Qataris, only 10% of the population of 2.8 million. An election law passed in July last year stipulated that only the descendants of people who became citizens in 1930 are eligible to vote, and families who have been naturalized since then are not eligible to vote.
Al Jazeera told voters about their voting experience and their expectations for the future.
Ali Nebet Hulefi, 44 years old
Ali voted according to a specific election plan [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]I have been following the various election plans launched by the candidates in the past four weeks. I believe in someone and vote accordingly.
I am very happy to be able to participate in the selection of our representatives. I am very optimistic and believe that this will be a big step forward for the country.
We hope that the council will do better for the country, implement development plans with the government, and monitor and improve the performance of various ministries and commissions.
Sabeka al-Khulaifi, 31 years old
The women’s section of the polling station in Doha [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]I am very grateful for this opportunity because we want to change some things in our community. This is the first step for Qatar, and this is the first time it has happened.
One of the main factors that attracted me to the candidates I voted for was their position on women’s rights.
I hope that the parliament can help divorced and widowed women change the status quo, because they want to own their own houses and hope to physically help working mothers reduce their working hours.
Alanud Khalifa Hulaifi, 39 years old
Alanud hopes that the committee will help achieve the goal of “everything good” for the country [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]It was a strange and pleasant feeling to vote for the first time in the history of this country. I think there are some important points in my candidate’s election plan.
I hope that the council will help realize everything that is beneficial to the country and citizens, especially women.
Mohamed Hulaifi, 52 years old
Muhammad said voting in the Qatar Shura Council election is a “national responsibility” [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]Voting in today’s election is a national obligation and a legal right of every citizen. The voting process was easier than I expected, and it was quick and simple.
Voting is a huge victory because citizens can exercise their democratic rights. I expect that political and economic needs will increase in the future because there will be an elected committee in place.
Nouf Mohammed al-Khulaifi, 33 years old
A woman participates in the Shura parliamentary election [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]Being able to vote gives the public the opportunity to choose what they need to be part of the government.
Especially for women, voting and representation will help our voices be heard by more people.
Women are now equal to men-they work in the same department, they learn and work together to build a country, not just a family.
I especially hope that the council can help women achieve a better balance between work and personal life.
Hind al-Khulaifi, 20s
Women queuing to vote [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]The voting process is fast and simple. Before coming here I was very anxious and didn’t know what would happen, but it was well organized. This is a new experience, and I am very happy that I participated in it.
I voted for people who I think can adequately represent the rights of our family, so that if we have any concerns in the future, someone will contact the higher-level institutions of the country.
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