Embassy news

August 1, 2007 Yomiuri Shimbun published the interview of Sheikha Sabeeka, Wife of King Hamad, Kingdom of Bahrain

The Japanese largest daily newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun published the article of Sheikha Sabeeka, wife of King Hamad, Kingdom of Bahrain on the morning edition.

According to the article, Sheikha Sabeeka stressed the significance of the enhancement of women’s participation in Bahrain, where women’s suffrage is fully guaranteed, and added that “this accumulation of experience will contribute to the social acceptance of women as ‘capable partners in building and developing the state.'”

Furthermore, Sheikha Sabeeka made clear that expansion of the women’s rights does not contradict to Islam, by saying that owing to “Islamic percepts of equal rights and duties between men and women, there are views that approve the participation of women in politics.” At the same time, she mentioned that “finding the perfect balance between their responsibilities towards their family and home on one side and towards society on the other hand” is “in fact central to the success of women,” and showed her support to working women by defending them saying that “some European countries are now reviewing the principle of absolute equality because it does not suit the conditions of women.”