Women gained the right to vote and run for office in 2005 but failed in two previous elections to win seats in the 50-member parliament. Four women were elected in Saturday's vote, according to official results read out by judges on state-owned TV on Sunday.
Kuwait has led the region in giving its people democratic rights. It has an elected parliament that wields considerable power, but the Cabinet is still chosen and led by a ruling family that holds ultimate power.
Radical religious politicians have fought against extending political rights to women. And at the same time, they have pushed for full implementation of Islamic law, or Sharia, in the oil-rich U.S. ally.
"This is a message that the Kuwaiti society has started to move away from such movements that are based on hatred," said political commentator Sami al-Nisf.
3 comments:
Christine,
This is go news. Giving women this kind of politically power goes against Sharia. This is a good sign.
Great news, Christine. Thanks.
Though I must say, it is interesting how Islamic regimes often deny women rights, and yet vote them into power.
For instance, Pakistan elected Bhutto to lead their whole nation. In America, obviously, we have never had a female leader.
I wonder what it is that could account for this strange paradox?
Not only Pakistan but also Bangladesh has had two prime ministers: Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina Wazed (current)
Since the first female prime minister was elected in Sri Lanka in 1960, women worldwide have gained prominent positions in power.
( http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Current-Women-Leaders.htm )
Interestingly, the conservative mentality in the Unites States has still not permitted women to break the glass ceiling barrier and lead the country yet despite several attempts in the past several decades.
In our country, it is not necessarily an Islamic regime per se that is restraining us but strong cultural/conservative traditions that have taken a long time to bypass. Change does not often happen overnight as we all know. Look at how long it took Americans to elect a president of African/American descent (and who is of mixed heritage at that).
We are happy that Kuwaiti women have finally made their way into the Kuwaiti parliament on their own without the need for quota system or being backed by any party or political group. They did it of their own merit and this is the day we have long waited for.
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