Congratulations to Kuwait, particularly the Kuwaiti women for gaining their right to vote and contest elections.
Kuwait passes law for women’s right to vote
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Kuwait’s parliament passed a law on Monday granting women the right to vote and run in elections, for the first time in the pro-Western Gulf Arab state.Kuwaiti women lining the podium burst into cheers when parliament speaker Jassim al-Khorafi said the legislation had been passed by a majority of the all-male parliament to grant full suffrage to women.
“We made it. This is history,” said prominent activist Roula al-Dashti. “Our target is the parliamentary polls in 2007. I’m starting my campaign from today,” she told reporters.
There were 35 in favor, 23 against, and one abstention on the vote that had met fierce resistance from Islamists and other MPs.
Women activists said it was too late for women to vote and run for the municipal elections set for June 2.
Parliament said earlier this month women could not vote in June municipal polls after delays to a vote on a limited bill that would have allowed women to participate. But it said similar polls in 2009 could be opened to them.
Some women’s groups in Kuwait — a key U.S. ally in the Gulf — had reacted angrily to the news they could not join this year’s local polls.
Reuters
Comments
Way to go Kuwait!
Great News! Lets hope this bit of freedom extends to the rest of the countries in the Gulf!
Way to go Kuwait!
Well done ladies! Great news for the arabian gulf, let’s hope that this is mirrored in neighbouring countries now.
GB
Way to go Kuwait!
[color=blue]The downside was adding that “women’s voting and electing should be in accordance with our Islamic Sahria”.. like they had to slip that line in just to ruin it for us!
Well.. THEY DIDN’T
I saw fireworks driving back home & it gave me goosebumps.
Thank you, Mahmood 🙂
Shurouq,
(I keep losing my password)[/color]
Way to go Kuwait!
Congrats to the people of Kuwait!!!
Wonder if the Saudi Press is reporting this?????
Re: Way to go Kuwait!
Hehe it will be interesting to see what spin they put on it! Anyone has a clue?
GB
Way to go Kuwait!
Congrats to the Kuwaiti women, finally they got what they deserve. I read in an article that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia where the only countries in the gulf where women weren’t allowed to vote. I wonder though, I haven’t seen any women voting except in Bahrain before this, unless there were some sort of elections in the gulf which I didn’t hear about which involved women. I suppose probably that they meant the rules associated with voting allowing women.
Way to go Kuwait!
I’m so happy for the women!
thinker
Way to go Kuwait!
An updated quip from the AP that I have edited a bit to remove some duplicate info contained in Mahmood’s post. Note how some members of the Kuwaiti Parliment are hinting at blaming “foreign pressure” aka the US for this being passed. I say CONGRATS to the people of Kuwait!!!
Kuwait Approves Women’s Political Rights
By DIANA ELIAS, AP
KUWAIT CITY (AP) – Parliament extended political rights to Kuwaiti women Monday, but religious fundamentalists who opposed women’s suffrage succeeded in attaching a clause requiring future female politicians and voters to abide by Islamic law.
Some of the women activists who ululated and sang the national anthem after the 35-23 vote enacting the law expressed concern about the vague restriction, but others refused to let it dampen their joy.
Nada al-Muttawa, a Kuwait University political scientist dressed in a smart pantsuit, was more concerned the restriction might impose on personal freedoms.
“I am happy, but I fear those Islamic law controls,” she said. “I hope they are talking about separate ballot boxes and not the imposition of Islamic dress.”
Islamic conservatives called the law a “bombshell” and accused the government of bowing to foreign pressure. They believe women’s participation in politics contradicts Islam’s teachings and complain it will allow women to mix with men freely.
Nasser al-Saneh, a fundamentalist lawmaker who voted against the bill, said he respected the house’s decision but hoped it did not come as a result of “government pressure that changed the position of many.”
Women can now vote in all Middle Eastern nations where elections are held except Saudi Arabia. The Persian Gulf nations of Bahrain, Qatar and Oman all have held their first elections in recent years and have allowed women to cast ballots.
The new law passed six years to the day after Kuwait’s emir, Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, granted women political rights by decree, but his order was overturned by lawmakers. Shortly after, lawmakers quashed an identical suffrage bill proposed by liberal members.
The prime minister, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, congratulated women on their new rights and said women can now be appointed as members of the Cabinet.
Kuwaiti women have reached high positions in the oil industry, education and the diplomatic corps, but few have demanded political rights.
Monday’s vote could raise Kuwait’s voter rolls from 139,000 to as many as 339,000 if all eligible women register. The number of Kuwaitis is estimated at more than 960,000.
Way to go Kuwait!
It annoyes me how Islam is often blamed for society’s (especially men’s) unability to cope with the thought of a strong, free and liberal woman, muslim or otherwise. This is the first step in the fight, well done to the women who faught so hard to get here today, you deserve our utmost respect.
GB
Re(2): Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]i hope that the right honorable madame kuwaiti mp sits across from al saeedi in a sexy top and pants and extends her hand out and have him make a complete fool of himself by refusing to shake her hand. on camera.[/quote]
1 dozen SHAWARMAS for you!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Jasra I needed a good laugh this morning!
But would he “reach out” for her in a political or non political manner later? Would he need a bib to keep the drool off of his thobe? Dark sunglasses to hide his wonderin’ eyes? [b]”I wear my sunglasses in session, so I can, so I can watch the pretty woman MP’s stroll on by…”[/b]
ciao!
Mark
Way to go Kuwait!
Until the Kuwaitis have the ability to dump or change their government and royal family they will not really be free, but it is a good start.
Re: Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]The new law passed six years to the day after Kuwait’s emir, Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, granted women political rights by decree, but his order was overturned by lawmakers. Shortly after, lawmakers quashed an identical suffrage bill proposed by liberal members. [/quote]
Seems they have a bit more freedom than you might think. The Kuwaiti lawmakers seem to have the power to overturn a ROYAL DECREE as noted above.
Re(1): Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]Seems they have a bit more freedom than you might think. The Kuwaiti lawmakers seem to have the power to overturn a ROYAL DECREE as noted above. [/quote]
I am not a big fan of monarchies at all. Unless, of course, they are like the ones in the Scandinavian countries, nothing more than symbolic with no real powers.
Re(2): Way to go Kuwait!
Monarchy anywhere seems like a bad idea and reinforces social class. In the Arab countries they also seem to reinforce injustice and violence. Quite sad really.
Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]Note how some members of the Kuwaiti Parliment are hinting at blaming “foreign pressure” aka the US for this being passed.[/quote]
I say that if the Infidels have to show the Believers the right path, what does that say about the Believers?
Rock on Kuwait!
Re(3): Way to go Kuwait!
Haven’t you seen Deputy Dawg’s pictures?
He already has a God given bib to save all that drool for later!
Re(4): Way to go Kuwait!
Sadly I saw Deputy Dawg at Geant. I had to bite my lip so I wouldn’t let my ADD take over and say something to him!
Way to go Kuwait!
That was a great news I ever heard and wish to extends to all Gulf States and Saudi in particular.
AinialYaman
Re: Way to go Kuwait!
I remember my paternal grandmother telling me how proud she was when she got to vote for the first time. Good thing there were some liberal votes or neither would have the right to vote.
billT
Re(3): Way to go Kuwait!
yeah .. but in the example above, it was the monarchy who were more liberal than the bozos in parliament – it was the conservatives in parliament who overturned the decree giving women the right to vote.
as a woman – i dont give a damn – monarchy/shmonarchy. i will support those who serve my interest. and so far, the monarchies in the gulf seem to be a bit more open minded (when it comes to women) than the alternatives. (our neighbours notwithstanding).
Which is why, i will never, ever, vote for a bearded one. Neither Deputy Dawg nor Adel “I have food in my beard” Al Mawadeh, nor the corrupt judges in family courts.
Sorry Malik if I have offended your sensibilities. These bozos hide behind the Koran and Relgiion and Islam. In reality, they just want to get laid as many times as they can, without worrying about child support or potential children or anything like that. Sex starved. That’s the problem. Having said that, I doubt any of them would last more than 10 minutes in bed. And no, I am not about to volunteer to find out either. Although … perhaps we should send them a playboy bunny in a box to be opened by them during next parliamentary session. Now – that would be entertaining, wouldn’t it. And if we can’t find the real thing in Bahrain, (which I doubt), then we can at least send them a blow up doll. Failing that, how about a mannequin??
Re: Way to go Kuwait!
malik.
you forget that after the iraqi invasion of 1991, it was the kuwaitis who actually wanted the monarchy back …the kuwaiti people had the opportunity and they made their choice. the least we can do is respect it…
being free means the freedom to choose. they did choose.
Re(4): Way to go Kuwait!
I’m not supporting the idiots that run the parliament, I’m simply stating that the monarchy system is inherently wrong. While it’s great that women in Kuwait got this victory, it should still be taken into consideration that there are other political (feminist and otherwise) to consider.
Lol I like the playboy bunny idea, bet you they have one stashed somewhere anyway… they’re trying so hard to be hard lines strict muslims, makes you think they have something to hide no? *giggles* Wonder what Freud would say about them…
Re(5): Way to go Kuwait!
By the way this is not Malik, I’m a new convert to this website but I can’t seem to be able to sign up 🙁
GB
sign up problems
sorry about that GB, I know of the problem and am trying to fix it, but have been busy and down with a heavier cold than normal and have to work and earn some money before the summer shuts everything down… I’ll fix it as soon as I can. for now, rest assured that you have as much privileges on mahmood.tv as a registered user.
Re: sign up problems
Thanks Mahmood, sorry to hear you’re not feeling too well, hope you get better soon 🙂
GB
Re(1): Way to go Kuwait!
so true. nice to give credit where credit is due – to the liberals. and, one more thing … the only reason the fundamentalists didnt want women to vote is because they end up potentially losing their lock on power in parliament.
for better or for worse, women’s issues are on their way to becoming a campaign issue. it might take a parliament term or two to ginally get there – but the the fact that both bahrain and qatar took the step meant that the kuwaitis had no choice but to.
kuwaiti women are more aggressive than bahraini or qatari women. they have also been fighting for it for a while. i hope they kick some royal backside and actually get a few seats and do something with it. and when they come and do their parliamentary thing and visit their counterparts in the gcc, i hope that the right honorable madame kuwaiti mp sits across from al saeedi in a sexy top and pants and extends her hand out and have him make a complete fool of himself by refusing to shake her hand. on camera. for the whole world to see.
i hope the islamists hang themselves one by one. by the self same bras that the mannequins model …
🙂
Re(3): Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]
malik – dont take an argument to an extreme to make a point. There are no ‘open and free votes’ for leadership anywhere in the GCC today.[/quote]
I wasnt aware I was taking anything to the extreme. I think the ultimate goal needs to be open and free votes in all GCC countries about all issues, especially what kind of government leads you and who comprises that government. It is kind of misleading to claim that the Kuwaits chose their monarchy, to chose something there must be a choice to be made. I wasnt aware there was a choice on offer. It was between the old monarchy and Iraqi Reublican Guard. There was no choice. It was an issue of simply going back to the way things were before.
[quote]We are a long away from it yet. And, as a woman, i will tell you that as long as these jerk ass islamists are running around, give me the monarchy any day. i repeat … any day. i dont want anyone telling me what to wear and how to speak. the poison starts slowly. it starts with covering the hair. then stopping work. then school. all in the name of islam. i would rather fight for participation from within the current system than deal with the alternative. look at iran. what good did the beloved islamic revolution do for women? and they had more of a role in civil society than we ever did. they have ‘open and free’ elections too, no?
enough is enough. separate the mosque from the state. and then we can start talking. [/quote]
Sure, I agree. Democracy is like that, sometimes the people you like win, other times they dont. Living in a democracy means that you live by the will of the people. If people in Saudi Arabia(all of them including women) are given the right to vote and they choose to keep the status quo in regards to their version of Islam, that is their choice. I do not ever see a day in the Gulf where the mosque and state are completely seperated, but I hope to see a day when religion in Muslim states has about the same role as Christianity in the USA. It is recognised that the USA is a country founded by and upon Christian principles, yet there is a clear seperation between religion, state, and the role in which it plays.
I have no problem with Islamists as long as they realise that Islam is a religion all about intention(niya). If you force a woman to cover and her intention isnt to do so, you have done her no favour. I do not want Islamists forcing their rules upon me either. That would mean the latest Nine Inch Nails CD going out the window……and I prefer to shave, thank you! lol
Re(4): Way to go Kuwait!
Malik ..
You state:
“but I hope to see a day when religion in Muslim states has about the same role as Christianity in the USA”
My response:
And go back to the days when abortion was done in the back rooms? And homosexuals are treated like they have the plague? Yeah. Right. The US is struggling with this issue as much as we are.
What you don’t realize Malik is that the answer will NOT come from Islam. There are no ‘Muslim States’. The political system in Saudi Arabia is completely different in ethos and in spirit than the political system in Malaysia. Both states with majority Muslims.
Religion and Islam belongs in the private realm of man/woman and God. nowhere else. and if one man one vote is going to get me bozos who are going to bring in the religious police, then i am sorry, i would rather wait for that one man one vote until there is enough awareness of what the options are. And i dont like organized religion. period. Give me the European option. Where, unfortunately, they had to learn the hard way. And the Europeans paid their price in blood to separate church and state.
Malik – please keep Islam out of the political process of participation and inclusion. I have a gut instinct that going down your proposed route, we might end up with the Islamic Republic of Saudi Arabia or the Islamic Republic of Bahrain. And with all due respect to democracy and the will of the people, if the majority of the voters are idiots – then I would rather that they remain in idiot land by themselves and not drag us into the dark ages. I would rather fight WITHIN the current system of the monarchy and ask for family code law, or for a welfare system that really identifies the poor and targets them, or do civil disobedience about registering blog sites, or raise a stink about the firing of journalists, than I would ever fight by raising the flag of Islam.
And, whatever you do, please do not come back at me with the usual typical response of me not being a ‘true’ Moslem. Who the hell appointed these guys as judge and jury of what being a true moslem means anyway???
An Angry Moslem Jasra Jedi
[Modified by: jasra-jedi (jasra-jedi) on May 18, 2005 04:43 PM]
Re(5): Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]Malik ..
You state:
“but I hope to see a day when religion in Muslim states has about the same role as Christianity in the USA”
My response:
And go back to the days when abortion was done in the back rooms? And homosexuals are treated like they have the plague? Yeah. Right. The US is struggling with this issue as much as we are. [/quote]
I hardly think the US faces the same sort of issues with religion as do the Gulf states. Sure we have our issues, but abortion has been legal for 30 years now. As to gays, we offer, in most states, if not marriage, civil unions.
[quote]What you don’t realize Malik is that the answer will NOT come from Islam. There are not Muslim states. The political system in Saudi Arabia is completely different in ethos and in spirit than the political system in Malaysia. Both states with majority Muslims. [/quote]
I agree there are no Muslim states in existence today, I agree. The idea of “Islamic world” is misleading, and which is why I dont like to use it, but I often do for lack of a better word. The Islam of Malaysia, as you say, is a world away from that in Saudi Arabia. The term “Islamic world” means very little unless it is broken down greatly, and it means nothing as a term of generalisation.
[quote]Religion and Islam belongs in the private realm of man/woman and God. nowhere else.[/quote]
I dont believe this will ever happen in the Middle East. I think Islam will always be the state religion, to one extent or another. The goal is to make sure that the state has no right to impose religion, or its view of it, on anyone.
[quote]and if one man one vote is going to get me bozos who are going to bring in the religious police, then i am sorry, i would rather wait for that one man one vote until there is enough awareness of what the options are. And i dont like organized religion. period. Give me the European option. Where, unfortunately, they had to learn the hard way. And the Europeans paid their price in blood to separate church and state. [/quote]
Ah, hate to break this to you, but Europe is full of state sponsored religions. The King of England, their head of state, is also head and defender of the state religion. The king or queen of England must be a Protestant, no less. Most western European nations, especially the monarchies, are set up the same way. In Germany there is state sponsored religion as well. As a matter of fact, depending on which German state you live in your taxes go directly to the church. In Bavaria, everyone pays taxes that go to the Catholic church. Like I maintain, the goal is to make sure that in day to day life religion and its leaders have no practical control.
[quote]Malik – please keep Islam out of the political process of participation and inclusion. [/quote]
I propose that a system like England would work for most states in the Gulf. A monarchy, with no real power. A state religion, with no power to control or legislate.
[quote]I have a gut instinct that going down your proposed route, we might end up with the Islamic Republic of Saudi Arabia or the Islamic Republic of Bahrain. And with all due respect to democracy and the will of the people, if the majority of the voters are idiots -[/quote]
Hardly a democratic thought process there. Because people make a choice you dont like they are idiots? I dont like George Bush, but I would hardly brand all of his supporters idiots. If you are a real believer in democracy then you must realise that it entails some good with the bad. You are going to get people in power you dont like. But that is okay, if they are unfit to lead, then they will be voted out of power. Simple as that.
[quote]I would rather fight WITHIN the current system of the monarchy and ask for family code law, or for a welfare system that really identifies the poor and targets them or do civil disobedience about registering blog sites, or raise a stink about the firing of journalists that I would raise the flag of Islam. [/quote]
I am a democrat and I believe in the right of people to choose their own destiny. I refuse to believe that the majority of people are stupid. I do not want a person, a monarchy, who based on birth think they have a right to rule over me. I think if you give the people a right to choose, based on a fair and open political system, you will always win. Dont go pointing to Iran, because I hardly think their system is open or fair. Yes, they can vote, but the radical Islamic clerics in the judiciary can ban candidates and parties. That is not democracy, doesnt matter if they can vote or not.
[quote]And, whatever you do, please do not come back at me with the usual typical response of me not being a ‘true’ Moslem. Who the hell appointed these guys as judge and jury of what being a true moslem means anyway??? [/quote]
I most certainly did not. I came back at you as a democrat who believes in the people. I came at you as a person who believes in the power of the vote and a free and open society. Please do not come back at me with the notion that people are idiots if they do not think like you. That, itself, is an undemocratic attitude.
Re(4): Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]Sorry Malik if I have offended your sensibilities. These bozos hide behind the Koran and Relgiion and Islam. In reality, they just want to get laid as many times as they can, without worrying about child support or potential children or anything like that. Sex starved. That’s the problem. Having said that, I doubt any of them would last more than 10 minutes in bed.[/quote]
How would this offend my sensibilities? These men do indeed hide behind religion and The Qur’an to justify the unjustifiable. They have forgotten that the Prophet(PBUH) was certainly a women’s reformer in his day and society. As to their sex lives, I could care less, although sex starved isnt what I would call them as many of them have more than one wife.
Re(1): Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]malik.
you forget that after the iraqi invasion of 1991, it was the kuwaitis who actually wanted the monarchy back …the kuwaiti people had the opportunity and they made their choice. the least we can do is respect it…
being free means the freedom to choose. they did choose. [/quote]
There was an open and free vote and the Kuwaitis chose their monarchy? I wasnt aware of such a vote. My mistake.
Re(5): Way to go Kuwait!
quantity and quality aint the same …
Re(6): Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]quantity and quality aint the same … [/quote]
I personally do not care about either when it comes to someone elses sex life.
Re(7): Way to go Kuwait!
[quote]I personally do not care about either when it comes to someone elses sex life. [/quote]
Yet Malik you feel you must comment on it. If you don’t care than keep MUTE on the sunject.
Re(2): Way to go Kuwait!
no – there was no ‘open and free vote’ in the terminology that u mean. but – the majority of the kuwaitis, including the opposition at the time, supported the reinstatement of the monarchy. at the time, people placed a high premium on stability & continuity. I am not sure what the Kuwaitis would do today – but in 1991, conventional wisdom ran in favor of stability.
malik – dont take an argument to an extreme to make a point. There are no ‘open and free votes’ for leadership anywhere in the GCC today. We are a long away from it yet. And, as a woman, i will tell you that as long as these jerk ass islamists are running around, give me the monarchy any day. i repeat … any day. i dont want anyone telling me what to wear and how to speak. the poison starts slowly. it starts with covering the hair. then stopping work. then school. all in the name of islam. i would rather fight for participation from within the current system than deal with the alternative. look at iran. what good did the beloved islamic revolution do for women? and they had more of a role in civil society than we ever did. they have ‘open and free’ elections too, no?
enough is enough. separate the mosque from the state. and then we can start talking.