Kuwait govt clears way for first female MPs
Parliament today approved women’s political rights, clearing the way for women to run in parliamentary elections for the first time in Kuwait’s history.
However, an article included the bill requires that any female politician or voter abide by Islamic law. It was not clear what limits this may put on women’s rights.
The bill was approved in a 35-23 vote with one abstention.
Kuwait’s Cabinet had asked for the vote earlier today in a surprise move after a number of attempts had been stymied by fundamentalist lawmakers, who successfully inserted the Islamic law article in the final bill.
Kuwait’s next parliamentary election is due in 2007.
Women activists have for years been pushing for their right to vote and run for parliament, but several attempts to give them political rights have over the years been defeated in the house.
Although Kuwaiti women have reached high positions in oil, education and the diplomatic corps, the country’s 1962 election law limits political rights to men.
With only men over 21 who are not members of the police or the military allowed to vote, just over 139,000 are registered to cast ballots out 960,000 Kuwaitis. If the door for women is opened, the figure could reach 339,000.
