The election of former protesters such as Salim al-Mashani, who had been detained during demonstrations in the southern port city of Salalah in February, was praised by activists.
“That means the people were fully behind the protests and they want their voices heard democratically,” Saif al-Muharbi, another former protester in Muscat, told Reuters.
Voter turnout was higher than expected, with 76% of the nearly 520,000 registered voters casting ballots on Saturday. Few had expected a voting rate higher than the 28% seen in 2007, given low turnouts in recent elections in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Five people were killed in February’s protests, which erupted in the industrial town of Sohar after uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Mainly young protesters demanded higher salaries and an end to graft in Oman.
“It is very unfortunate that only one woman was elected but we must respect the results because voters had their say yesterday,” interior ministry undersecretary Mohamed bin Sultan al-Busaidi, who also heads the electoral committee, told reporters.
Women were given the right to vote in 2003, when two female candidates were elected to the Shura Council.
