Alees Samann made history in the Arab world on 18 April 2004 when she became the first woman to chair a session of parliament in the region.

The BBC reported: "Incidents of this kind in the Arab world are increasingly being seen as signs of a gradual change towards more open and democratic societies in the entire region.

However, the government which nominates citizens to the upper chamber is accountable to the members of the lower house, and therefore the British and Canadian electorates respectively.

Critics state that the ruling family has sought to use the appointed Consultative Council to guarantee veto power over all legislation.

The council includes Faisal Fulad, an activist accused in the Bandargate scandal of illegally receiving a monthly stipend of BD500 (US$1,326) for fomenting sectarian hatred.