Amid a surging pandemic and record unemployment, one group is coming to the forefront in Jordan’s parliamentary elections – women.
A record 364 women are running in the country’s November 10 parliamentary elections, a 44 per cent increase from 2016 and part of an overall 26 per cent rise in the number of overall candidates.
For the first time, three all-women electoral lists and dozens of women are competing outside of Jordan’s 15-seat quota for women in parliament.
Running on campaign themes ranging from job-creation to overhauling the overburdened health sector, candidates say they want to put an end to “tokenism” and push against patriarchal tribal norms.
“Before, some men would just add a woman with the right family name to their list to pick up a quota seat,” said Wafa Yousif Tarawneh, candidate for the western city of Karak.
She said the lists preferred a woman who has a recognisable family name “but is not too outspoken or independent”.
Ms Tarawneh's own negative experience of being marginalised on an electoral list in 2016 led her to form Jordan’s first all-women’s electoral list this year from her home province of Karak.
Within weeks of forming her electoral list, which has five women candidates representing different regions and tribes, two additional all-women’s lists were announced, one in the northern province of Ajloun and in the tribal Central Badia district.
“People think that women’s empowerment and rights is only an Amman phenomenon,” Ms Tarawneh said.
“We are proving that in the governorates and here in Karak, the political heartland of Jordan, there is a desire for and support for women MPs, perhaps even stronger than in the capital.”
Karak community activist Asma Hijazin agrees.
“Women are the key to progress and change,” said Ms Hijazin, who was inspired to form an association to support women candidates.
“Next election I plan to run as a candidate, and many women across Jordan are thinking ‘why not us?’.”
By running outside the quota, many women find themselves now competing against relatives, splitting the tribal vote and drawing ire from relatives who believe the male candidate should have priority.
Ms Tarawneh’s campaign posters were removed from her home village and women voters say they are split between the desire to vote for a women and family pressures.
Yet there has been some enthusiasm ahead of the polls, despite record-low public interest in the election in general.
“Seeing all these strong women candidates makes you think that parliament can actually represent us,” Amira Samer, 43, a pharmacist from Amman, said.
Samiha Sarayreh, a former principal and a women’s list candidate, said that the quota has prevented voters from taking women candidacies seriously.
“Either the government should make sure there are equal seats for men and women or scrap the quota altogether,” said Ms Sarayreh.
“We can do it on our own [without the quota].”
Rising women’s confidence comes after the 2016 polls saw a record five women win beyond the 15-seat quota.
“Women candidates are definitely becoming more accepted and this is a good thing,” said Musa Shteiwi, professor of political sociology at the University of Jordan.
“We are seeing more women encouraged to run for office, which was the purpose of the quota.”
Some smaller tribes now prefer to run women candidates as they think they have more chance of gaining a seat due to the quota, said Mr Shteiwi, but women running competitively against men has still not been widely accepted at the society-level.
Women candidates say, however, that they are determined to make Jordan’s “women’s wave” a permanent fixture.
Ms Tarawneh and other women’s candidates plan to form an all-women’s political party, and there are also plans to establish NGOs to recruit, train and support women for political office.
“Women are seen as less corruptible, more trustworthy,” Mr Tarawneh said.
“Amid frustration with last parliament, people are supporting women for a change.”
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Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
RACE CARD AND SELECTIONS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
The National selections
5pm: RB Hot Spot
5.30pm: Dahess D’Arabie
6pm: Taamol
6.30pm: Rmmas
7pm: RB Seqondtonone
7.30pm: AF Mouthirah
Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
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13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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2.0
Director: S Shankar
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
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Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.