▁women ▁candidates ▁in ▁the ▁lists ▁of ▁Islam ist ▁parties ▁such ▁as ▁Al ▁We fa q , ▁Al - Men bar ▁Islam ic ▁Society ▁and ▁As al ah . ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁poor ▁performance ▁of ▁women ▁candidates ▁in ▁the ▁parliament ary ▁elections , ▁six ▁women , ▁including ▁one ▁Christian , ▁were ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁upper ▁chamber ▁of ▁parliament , ▁the ▁Sh ura ▁Council . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁Bah rain ▁appointed ▁its ▁first ▁female ▁minister , ▁Dr ▁N ada ▁H aff ad h ▁to ▁the ▁position ▁of ▁Health ▁Minister , ▁and ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁Dr ▁F at ima ▁Al bal o oshi , ▁the ▁second ▁woman ▁minister ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁cabinet . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁Hou da ▁Ez ra ▁N ono o , ▁a ▁Jewish ▁activ ist , ▁who ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁also ▁head ed ▁the ▁Bah rain ▁Human ▁Rights ▁Watch ▁Society ▁which ▁has ▁campaign ed ▁against ▁the ▁re int roduction ▁of ▁the ▁death ▁penalty ▁in ▁Bah rain , ▁was ▁also ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁Sh ura ▁Council . ▁In ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁Sh ura ▁member ▁Ale es ▁S ama an ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁chair ▁a ▁parliament ary ▁session ▁in ▁the ▁Arab ▁world ▁when ▁she ▁cha ired ▁the ▁Sh ura ▁Council . ▁The ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁main ▁women ' s ▁organisation , ▁the ▁Supreme ▁Council ▁for ▁Women , ▁M s ▁L ul wa ▁Al ▁A wad hi , ▁has ▁been ▁given ▁the ▁title ▁of