One More Reason Why I am Proud of Bahrain

In today's edition of the Gulf Daily News:

Making history for 20 minutes!
By Mohammed Al A'ali

Manama: Alice Samaan made history for the second time yesterday when she chaired the Shura Council - for just 20 minutes.

Last April, she became the first woman and the first Christian to chair any Shura or parliamentary session in the Arab or Islamic world.

Ms Samaan took the chair again yesterday, after council chairman Dr Faisal Al Mousawi had to leave early.

Second vice-chairman Mansour Bin Rajab is out of the country and first vice-chairman Abdulrahman Jamsheer stepped down to speak from the chamber floor in a debate on commercial and civil disputes.

Ms Samaan chaired the session for 20 minutes, before handing back the chair to Mr Al Jamsheer.

Last April, Ms Samaan chaired the full afternoon session.

Council rules state that in the absence of the chairman and his two deputies, the oldest member should chair the session - in this case Ms Samaan. "A woman chairing the session and for the second time is a clear example of the democracy we are witnessing here in Bahrain," said Ms Samaan.