Saudi Arabia's Shura Council has won some sort of award from the Arab League for having the best "parliamentary" website among the league's member countries. The kingdom is to be "feted" at a presentation ceremony shortly.

Arab News says:

"The Shoura Council is currently implementing an e-governance project in line with a decision of the council of ministers to introduce e-governance in the kingdom.

"The project aims to create a standardised electronic environment inside the council that will enable its members to work in a unified environment in addition to simplify interaction between the council and the public."

All very fine – except that the Shura Council isn't an elected parliament at all. Its 150 members are all appointed by the king.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 3 April 2010.