http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4874990.stm
Last Updated: Tuesday, 4 April 2006, 09:23 GMT 10:23 UK
Kuwaiti women vote for first time
Dr Khader calls it a proud day for Kuwait's women
Polling has begun in a Kuwaiti council by-election in which women are
being allowed to vote for the first time.
Two women are also among eight candidates running for the seat in the
Salmiya district, south of the capital.
The 28,000 eligible voters, 60% of whom are women, will vote in
segregated polling booths, a condition demanded by Islamist and tribal MPs.
Women were granted equal political rights last year and will vote in full
legislative polls in 2007.
Voting was reported to have begun slowly, as Tuesday is a normal working
day in the conservative, oil-rich state.
Ice breaker
One voter waiting outside the women's door at a polling station reflected
the years of frustration which Tuesday's vote finally dispels.
Jenan Boushehri is the other female candidate among seven men
"They have given us some attention. We became equal," said 29-year-old
Iman al-Issa in remarks quoted by AP news agency.
The Salmiya seat of the Kuwait Municipal Council fell vacant when
incumbent Abdullah al-Muhailbi was named a minister in the Kuwaiti cabinet
formed in February.
Kuwait's first women candidates are 32-year-old Jenan Boushehri, a
chemical engineer at the Kuwait Municipality, and 48-year-old Khalida Khader, a
US-educated physician and a mother of eight.
"I am so pleased that I have become one of the first Kuwaiti women
candidates to run in elections," Dr Khader said in an interview with AFP news
agency.
"I have broken the ice and hope this will benefit the cause of women,"
she added.
Attempts by the ruling Sabah family to change the male-dominated
legislative structure succeeded in May 2005 - after being blocked for six years
by tribal and Islamist members of the National Assembly.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
***************************************************************************
Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg
Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia
***************************************************************************
__________________________________________________________________________
Mohon Perhatian:
1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik)
2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari.
3. Reading only, http://dear.to/ppi
4. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
5. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
6. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
