Kuwaiti parliament postpones voting on women's political rights decree

The Kuwaiti Cabinet and those who back the emiri decree providing for offering women their full political rights succeeded on Tuesday in postponing final vote on this decree at the Kuwaiti National Council (the parliament) until next week due to concern of losing the vote on this decree.

The opposition Islamic parliament member Nasser al-Saye congratulated those who back the decree in the way they postponed voting on this issue, stating that "at least" the government is working actively, and he expressed hope that the government will "use such efforts in developing the country."

Those who oppose the decree on women's rights have tried twice to end the discussions on other issues so as to discuss this controversial issue. Yet, the attempt failed each time by a vote of 31 to 24 at the first time and 31 to 26 the second time in postponing the voting.

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah had surprised the "conservative" circles in his country when he enacted a decree that gives women their full political rights after he dissolved the parliament in May. The newly-enacted decree should be reviewed by the new parliament.

Islamists and tribal parliament members oppose the emir's decree for religious and traditional reasons.

On Saturday, the speaker of the parliament, Jasem al-Khurafi, put all his weight with those who oppose the decree.

Generally speaking, al-Khurafi often calls for cooperation with the government after previous disputes with the government at the parliament resulted in dissolving it.

Women activists in the area of human rights criticized statements made by al-Khurafi, and other women's groups met with him to explain their viewpoints.

Those who oppose the decree stressed that they have the necessary "voices" to reject it (33 votes), but they, on the other hand, admit that certain parliament members oppose the decree from a purely constitutional perspective (the Emir enacted the decree while the parliament was dissolved), and they back women's rights in principle.

To avoid defeat, a group of liberals had proposed a law identical to that of the emir's decree, with the hope it will be debated at the parliament's agenda before the decree will be voted on.