Bahraini women should enjoy more rights as democratic reforms take hold in the Gulf state, said a member of the Shura council, cited by the Gulf Daily.
"Bahraini women should have the right to a passport without their husband's consent," said Fuad Shihab, who is also chairman of the council’s human rights committee.
The Shura's human rights committee also believes women should have the right to own or rent property in their own name, Shihab was quoted as saying by the paper.
Shihab said the committee had sent a report to the government asking it to pass legislation giving women these rights.
“Human rights should be put on school curriculums and taught as a compulsory subject in the classroom,” he added.
He also recommended that articles dealing with human rights should be published in the local press on a weekly or monthly basis.
Shihab's comments comes amid moves led by Bahrain's emir to restore the country's democratic parliament, which was dissolved in 1975 sparking years of civil unrest, within the context of a constitutional monarchy.
A national charter outlining the changes, which won 98.4 percent support in the February referendum, also promises equal rights for men and women.
Parliamentary elections are due to be held by 2003 – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
