Najla Al Awadhi, 6/6/08
For a second time in Kuwait’s history, 27 women ran for parliament, and for the second time no Kuwaiti woman was elected. What followed, was the appointment of two women by the Kuwaiti government to ministerial posts, and while they stood up to take the oath of office, nine parliamentarians from the self proclaimed “Islamist” and “tribal” groups stormed out in protest. They were claiming that the women ministers were in breach of the electoral laws, because they were not wearing the hijab (headscarf). Kuwait’s Islamist and tribal groups, who now dominate the parliament, have always opposed the presence of women in political office.
See: http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/region/10218748.html
Tags: Kuwait, Womens Rights