Tag Archives: Kuwait

Kuwaiti Minister Suggests Expanded Rights for Women Close

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Kuwait’s minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah was quoted by Arabic News.Com in June as saying that he believes the next session of that country’s parliament will approve legislation guaranteeing political rights to women.

In July, Kuwait’s parliamentary elections resulted in a parliament that is likely to be much more supportive of the current government, which has wanted legislation seeking political equality for women for several years now.

In 1999 Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah issued a decree declaring political equality for women, but that decree has been opposed by parliament which has prevented it from entering into Kuwaiti law.

Sources:

Kuwait’s FM voices support for women issues. ArabicNews.Com, June 16, 2003.

Kuwaiti parliament postpones voting on women’s political rights decree. ArabicNews.Com, November 18, 1999.

On Kuwait’s women’s rights for participating in the elections. ArabicNews.Com, July 8, 2003.

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Islamists in Kuwait Call for End to Women’s Football

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The BBC reports that Muslim extremists in Kuwait are slamming a proposed women’s football tournament being organized by Kuwait University.

Abdullah al-Mutawa, head of Kuwait’s Muslim Brotherhood, said that the tournament would represent disobedience to God.

Conservative Member of Parliament Walid al-Tabtabai agreed, adding that allowing women to play such sports would “abuse the chastity and dignity of women and imitate western society.” During last summer’s Olympic games in Sydney, Australia, Al-Tabtabai had called for a ban on televised broadcasts of women’s sporting events because they showed women’s bodies in an indecent manner.

One of Kuwait’s leading women’s activists, Rola al-Dashdi, urged the government not to accede to the demands of the Islamists.

Source:

Whistle blown on women footballers. Caroline Hawley, The BBC, April 8, 2001.

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