http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=63906&d=17&m=5&y=2005
Tuesday, 17, May, 2005 (08, Rabi` al-Thani, 1426)
Kuwaiti Women Get the Vote
Omar Hasan, Agence France Presse
Kuwaitis in Parliament's public gallery react to the speaker's
announcement of the outcome of the vote on women's franchise. (AFP)
KUWAIT CITY, 17 May 2005 - Kuwaiti women were yesterday granted the right
to vote and stand in elections, under a historic amendment to the Gulf
emirate's election law that triggered celebrations outside Parliament.
Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah told reporters in
Parliament that he planned to name a woman minister. "God willing, it will be
soon. Now we have the right to appoint women in the government," he said.
"Thank God... that women got their political rights," the premier said. "I
congratulate the women of Kuwait for having achieved their political rights."
Kuwaiti women now join their counterparts from Gulf neighbors Qatar, Oman
and Bahrain in having the vote.
The amendment, which was finalized after several years of debate and
struggle by Kuwaiti women, passed by a vote of 35 MPs for, including 14
ministers, 23 against and one abstention. It was opposed by Islamist and tribal
legislators.
The result, announced by Parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, was
greeted with thunderous applause from the public gallery who also sang Kuwait's
national anthem.
Women activists and their supporters came out of the Parliament building
cheering the result, some in disbelief. They sang and danced in the
Parliament's yard.
"This is a historic moment. It's difficult for me to speak," said
activist Fatima Al-Abdali, who was in tears. "Today, it was a victory for
democracy ... the day of completing democracy in Kuwait."
The final vote came after a nine-hour heated debate during which
anti-women MPs tried to block the vote after realizing the government had a
sufficient majority to pass the amendment.
But they succeeded in passing an addition to the amendment requiring
Kuwaiti women who take part in the elections "to comply with regulations
dictated by Islamic Shariah law", without explaining the nature of those
guidelines.
"I am overexcited. I can't believe this," said activist Rola Dashti, who
said she would run in the next parliamentary election, in 2007. "I'm starting
my campaign as of today."
Dashti said she was not concerned by the reference to Shariah law, saying
it probably just meant separate polling stations and not an Islamic dress code.
"They can't impose veils on voters," she said.
Hard-line MP Waleed Al-Tabtabai said "this vote is against the will of
the Kuwaiti people... It aims at changing the identity of the society."
Islamist and tribal legislators had fiercely campaigned against women's
suffrage on the grounds that Islamic teachings bar women from participating in
political life.
The amendment of Article 1 of the electoral law automatically allows
women to vote and run for both the municipal council and Parliament. The
article, dating to 1962, limited the right to vote to men. It was deemed out of
step with the emirate's constitution which stipulates equality of the sexes.
The amendment will increase the number of eligible voters in Kuwait from
the current 145,000 males to more than 350,000 people, or 37 percent of
Kuwait's native population of 956,000. On May 3, Kuwait's all-male Parliament
failed to approve a bill that would have allowed women to vote and stand for
election in time for municipal elections due to take place later this year.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers.
At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/S.QlOD/3MnJAA/Zx0JAA/uTGrlB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/
<*> 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/
