Posted on 03/07/2005 10:28:38 AM PST by knighthawk
Kuwait's National Assembly (Parliament) on Monday started deliberations on the request of 10 MPs to refer article one of the electoral law to the Constitutional Court, in an attempt to grant women full political rights.
However, parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi adjourned the session for 15 minutes after crowds started clapping hard following the speech given by MP Mohammed Al-Saqer, a pro-women rights activist.
According to KUNA, the speaker ordered the crowds to leave the parliament building. A large number of people started gathering outside the parliament building since 8:00 Monday morning before they enetered the parliament to attend the session.
Bush's fault!!!!
Ping
More great news out of the Middle East. I give credit to President Bush for this!!!! He deserves it.
At this rate, conspiracy nuts will peg him as the Anti-Christ, who appears to bring peace all over the world.
Although they are staunch US Allies, they are in many ways a backwards culture, those Kuwaitis.. Its good to see things moving in the right direction.
I was in Kuwait a few weeks ago and the newspapers are all supporting voting rights for women. Since the press there is not exactly independent you can guarantee the powers that be have decided women will have the vote. The debate is for show. Looks like another win for Bush.
Just think, in 60 years the free citizens of the middle east will look back at Bush with the same sense of gratitude that the French feel towards us.
Yeah, what you said!
Bush 5 Old Europe 0.
Headline--Bush does more for women's rights in Islamic counties than NOW or the Clintons could ever dream of accomplishing.
Headline--Bush does more for women's rights in Islamic counties than NOW or the Clintons could ever dream of accomplishing.
Yeah, right! (big sarc)
Kuwaiti parliament not to debate women's rights in regular session
Excerpt from report in English by Kuwaiti news agency Kuna web site
Kuwait, 7 March: The request by 10 MPs to refer Article 1 of the electoral law to the Constitutional Court, [in] an effort to grant women political rights, has been withdrawn during parliament's regular session on Monday [6 March].
MP Mohammed al-Saqir, one of the MPs who have submitted the request, said the MPs decided to withdraw the request on condition that a date would be set for a specialized session to discuss the government's bill on amending Article 1 of the electoral law. [Passage omitted]
Article 1 of the electoral law limits political participation to Kuwaiti males over the age of 21. The 10 MPs argue that the article contradicts the Kuwaiti constitution which grants gender equality. Earlier today the parliament started deliberations on the 10 MPs' request, however, parliament Speaker Jasim al-Khurafi adjourned the session for 15 minutes after crowds started clapping hard following the speech given by MP Mohammed Al-Saqir.
The Speaker ordered the crowds to leave the parliament building. A large number of people started gathering outside the parliament building since 8:00 [local time] this morning before they entered the parliament to attend the session.
Source: Kuna news agency web site, Kuwait, in English 1007 gmt 7 Mar 05
http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk/nfnews.shtml#first
No WOW for NOW.
Wow for GWB:)
Kuwaitis demonstrate for women's suffrage
By Haitham Haddadin
KUWAIT (Reuters) - Around 500 Kuwaiti activists, mostly women, have demonstrated outside parliament to demand female suffrage amidst tensions in the Gulf Arab state over a government drive to grant women political rights.
"Women's rights now," chanted the crowd, which included women dressed in abayas, or traditional long black cloaks.
Some of the demonstrators at Monday's protest wore veils over their faces.
"Our democracy will only be complete with women," said a placard written in Arabic. "We are not less, you are not
more. We need a balance, open the door," said one written in English.
The crowd later attended a parliamentary session which approved a state request for a committee to speed up
reviewing a bill allowing women to vote and run for parliament.
"In all Muslim countries from Indonesia to Morocco, voting and running for office are among women's rights but we in
Kuwait alone say 'No' ... Is it possible that 1 billion Muslims are wrong and we in Kuwait are right," lawmaker Mohammed al-Saqr said to applause from female activists in the public gallery.
But the 50-man assembly, in which Islamists have a powerful bloc, did not set a date to discuss the draft law.
During the session, 10 liberal and independent lawmakers withdrew a motion to refer the election law to the Constitutional Court, Kuwait's highest court which rules on the constitutionality of laws and amendments, saying they did not want to slow down the state initiative.
Kuwait's constitution stipulates gender equality, but parliament has blocked previous government attempts to give
women suffrage.
U.S.-allied Kuwait proposed legislation last May allowing women to vote and run in parliamentary polls after a previous attempt in 1999 was shot down by Islamist and tribal lawmakers.
Kuwaiti newspapers said Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah had threatened to dissolve parliament if
it failed to approve the latest bill.
"I am very optimistic this time around that we will get our rights because ministers and deputies are working for this,"
said 55-year-old Mariam al-Jassar, a retired civil servant.
"Islam does not deny women's rights," the mother of seven said.
Some Islamic lawmakers have said they would back women voting but not running. Other Islamists and tribal legislators oppose the bill.
"For the past 40 years, Kuwait's society has been used to the idea that elections take place in such a manner (without
women)," said parliamentarian Khaled Adwah.
Washington has been pressing its allies in the Middle East to bring in political reforms, saying lack of freedom and
democracy have fostered violent Islamic militancy.
Reuters
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5583521
I think the Emir is backing it also..
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