In a previous article, I wrote that the word delivered by his Highness, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar during the opening session of the Conference on Democracy and Reform in the Arab World, which came as a pleasant surprise for all participants due to its candor, daring and its progressive proposals with regard to political reform to reform and democratization. His Highness perceived both democratization and reform as inevitability and hence, Arab regimes shouldn't maneuver or bring up excuses pertaining to Islam, Palestine, or Iraq in order to delay reforms.

During the two-day conference (3-5 June 2004) all participants wondered whether the prince really meant what he said at the opening session of the conference or was his words "a Silent Talk”, a term used by the Sudanese in reference to empty words. Three days after the closing of the Conference on Democracy and Reform in the Arab World, his Highness astonished all participants by declaring a new constitution. The significance of this step is that it will turn Qatar into a “Constitutional Monarchy" in which most of the executive and legislative powers will be controlled by representatives elected through national elections. The prince's initiatives puts him in the first rank of Arab leaders prepared to implement reforms without fear from either democracy or from his own people. The Prince did not only respond to his peoples' aspirations but exceeded them. Moreover, stressing the equal role for women underlines the integral relation between the social and the political.

This bold step by the Prince is in effect an implicit message to Qatar’s neighbors: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Although, Kuwait has been a pioneer in the field of democracy in the Gulf region, the dominance of the Islamists in its Legislative Council has hindered any progress towards granting the Kuwaiti women their full citizenship rights despite the fact that they were in the forefront of the battle against Sadaam’s invasion (1990-1991) of Kuwait. Thus, Kuwaiti women remain among the most politically deprived women within the Arab World.

The Qatari constitution carries also a similar message to our brothers in Saudi Arabia where citizenship rights for both women and men are severely obstructed and almost non-existent in regard to women. One of the excuses that the enemies of democracy in Saudi Arabia hide behind is the kingdom’s harsh Wahabbi doctrine. But, what most people do not know is that the citizens of Qatar adhere also to the same Wahabbi doctrine. Both Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al- Thani along with his progressives partner, Shaikha Mouza Bint Mousaed Al Misnad have proven that all citizens’ men and women everywhere will respond positively if their Arab leaders demonstrated a dedication to progress and provided an example.

Perhaps the Third National Meeting in Saudi Arabia took place in Medina, marks the birth of new recognition rights, a recognition that comes after decades of negligence. At the gathering titled “Woman her Rights, Duties and their Correlation to Education “ El Shiekh Saleh Bin Abdel Rahman Al Hassin, who chaired the meeting, expressed his satisfaction that Saudi women are participating in this event, which previously was restricted to men participants only. He noted in this connection of this beginning that the torrent of rain begins with a few drops.

The importance of the women’s cause in any real political transformation stems from her pivotal role in any genuine development since she does not only represent half of the society but represents the most important half. In fact the advancement of any society can be measured by women’s accomplishments in all sectors of society. She is also the mother, wife, sister, daughter, and lover. The poet Hafez Ibrahim was not exaggerating in his famous line: A mother is a school, which if you prepare well you would have prepared the entire nation.

The Gulf woman in particular was considered the pillar of society prior to the discovery of oil in the region. It was known that in the past men of the Gulf made their living by going on long fishing trips that lasted for months at a time leaving behind the task of rearing the children and managing family matters to the mothers, wives and daughters of the household. For several decades, women of the Gulf have preserved the cohesiveness and continuation of their societies. The condition of women was reversed with the advent of oil discoveries that was controlled by men. Men then ceased going on fishing trips and long distanced trade. The men thought that by lavishing women material things, they would be compensating them for their previous hardship.

However, men of the Gulf, whether leaders or parliamentarians must realize that Gulf women are now striving to acquire equality and become an active participant in public life- a task for which she is imminently prepared. Therefore, Saudi officials as well as parliamentarians in the Kuwaiti National Legislative are required to pursue Al Shiekh Hamed Ben Khalifa AL Thani’s conduct in granting women their full rights and should remember that there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

Other Arab leaders, who are terrified of democracy, have to wake up and realise that by hesitating or resisting change, they are not only fighting their people but they are running counter to the ethos of the modern world and trend of history. If they continue to cling to wielding absolute powers, then waves of popular anger will sweep them away. Let Saddam Hussien be a warning example and let Qatar’s King be a model to be emulated. El Shiekh Hamad kept his promise, will others keep theirs.