Somali clerics knock women quotas for parliament

By Mohamed Adam

Quota system says 30 percent of seats in parliament in upcoming elections reserved for women.

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Somali clerics council has called for a quota for the presence of women in the parliament after the upcoming elections, arguing that the provision is not in conformity with Islam.

In a statement Monday in Mogadishu, the Somali Clerical Association called on the government and citizens not to condone the quota system, which stipulates that 30 percent of seats in parliament be reserved for women.

“The Somali religious council cautions the nation and its people against the so-called quota system for women in politics,” said the statement.

“Somali women quotas are not something we know. It is a non-Muslim-driven agenda that will lead to the disintegration of society,” Sheikh Nur Barud Gurhan, the Somali religious council spokesman, told Anadolu Agency.

This comes after the National Leadership Forum — composed of the Somali federal government and four regional states leaders — agreed that 30 percent, in both the lower and upper houses of the next Somali parliament, will be reserved for women, i.e. over 80 seats.

Somali elections will take place next month. The process, which is to last a few weeks, will begin with the election of upper and lower house members.

The latter are to be elected by some 14,000 delegates while the upper house is to be designated by regional states. Both houses will elect the new president.