First Kuwaiti woman to ever launch political campaign
Kuwait, Politics, 3/23/2006

For the first time in the history of Kuwait on Tuesday, a woman launched an election campaign before a mixed male and female audience in an unprecedented scene since the beginning of the democratic life in the country 44 years ago.

Hundreds of men and women gathered in the meeting, which was organized according to the Kuwaiti tradition in a giant tent and listened to female candidate Hanan Bushahri who tried to convince them on her opportunities to win a seat at the only municipal council in Kuwait.

Bushahri submitted her nomination for the branch elections which will be organized on April 4, for the municipal seat in al-Salemeyah circle. Other 11 persons nominated themselves for this post including one woman, after the chairman of the municipal council Abdullah al-Muheilbi was appointed a minister of environment in the new Kuwaiti government.

This is. however, the first time in which women take part in a trade union meeting since the organization of the first election process in Kuwait in 1962. This is also the first time in which a woman organizes an election campaign. However, men and women sat in separate lines, though they were inside the same tent.

BuShahri who wears the scarf said "If god wills, I will serve you well if you elect me." She called on the participants in the meeting to fight sectarianism and tribalism and vowed to work for fighting bureaucracy and corruption in the municipal council."

Bushahri who is married and have two daughters have a Master degree in chemical engineering is preparing for the Doctorate degree. She runs the foodstuffs products monitoring department at the municipality.

Previous Stories:
  US government report on Kuwait's human rights   (3/15/2006)
  US government report on Kuwait's human rights   (3/15/2006)
  Kuwaiti parliament approves Nayef as crown prince   (2/21/2006)
  Sheikh Sabah hopes Gulf women to take similar steps like Kuwaitis   (7/1/2005)
  Kuwait appoints first female minister ever   (6/13/2005)
  Kuwaiti government appoints two women to the municipal council   (6/6/2005)

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