Kuwaiti women queue to vote for the first time

Telegraph News ^ | Friday 30 June 2006 | Tim Butcher

[gandalftb]

Women voted in Kuwait for the first time yesterday as the conservative emirate became the last Gulf state to allow universal suffrage.

Kuwaiti voters appeared to embrace the milestone in Middle East democracy as turnout figures surged to over 80 per cent.

Womeny voted in separate stations across the conservative state as Islamists had demanded.

Campaigners handed out roses to voters or water bottles with candidates' photos printed on them and volunteers offered voters rides to polling stations in golf carts.

"I don't know how to describe my feelings, I am so happy, it's a beautiful day as women practice their right," said female candidate Hind bin al-Shaikh. "I hope a woman makes it."

"I insisted on being the first to vote,'' said Zahra Ramadan Benbehani, 54. "I am so happy that I could not sleep last night.''

Twenty-eight women were among 249 candidates standing for a four-year term in the 50-seat national assembly.

Female candidates sounded jubilant, with some saying they would still be happy even if they did not win a seat.

"Today, Kuwaiti women will write history. Kuwait will be proud of its women," said Rula Dashti, who stood as a candidate.

Nawal al-Mugaihet, a retired teacher and another candidate, said: "Even if I didn't win a seat, I will consider myself as having succeeded for just running in the first election for women."

Some female candidates said they encountered intimidation from men. One said she had even received death threats which forced her to withdraw her candidacy

[gandalftb]

The beat goes on. Freedom, democracy. OK, liberal democrats whiners, who among you believe that any of this would have happened if we hadn't freed Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan with American blood?

[massgopguy]

Ah, the imposition of democracy. HA!

[Element187]

Bushs fault?