Kuwaiti Islamists and giving women their rights
Kuwait, Politics, 5/17/2005

Commenting on the results of voting in the Kuwaiti parliament which resulted in giving women the right to vote and be elected to public office, parliamentarian Fahd al-Khinna, the coordinator of the Islamists bloc at the Kuwaiti parliament said that his bloc voted against this law on the ground that "in the Sharia (Islamic law), a woman is not permitted to be nominated for elections or assuming governmental posts," adding but his bloc accepts the decision because it reflects the views of the majority.

However, the Islamists parliamentarians who opposed this legislation were able to accept this new election law which requires that women should abide by the Sharia rules and restrictions in practicing their political rights.

On May 8th the Kuwaiti Ummah council failed to approve a draft law giving women political rights for the next municipal elections after 29 parliamentarians voted in favor of the law while two voted against it with 29 abstainers.

By getting their electoral rights, women in Saudi Arabia are the only ones in the Arab Gulf region who do not have the right to cast their votes in elections.

Previous Stories:
  Kuwait permits al-Jazeera TV to resume work   (5/12/2005)
  Kuwaiti opposition deplores tightening measures against Islamic party   (5/5/2005)
  Kuwait's parliament fails to endorse women's participation in elections   (5/3/2005)
  Kuwaiti parliament approves woman participation in municipal elections   (4/20/2005)

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