Kuwait Elections | 05/18/2009 8:25 am
4 Women Elected to Kuwait's Parliament, Make History
Women have only been allowed to vote and run for office for four years so far.
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Women made huge strides in politics and narrowed the gender gap during elections in Kuwait this weekend.
Four women won the Gulf state’s parliamentary elections — the first time women have won parliamentary seats since given the right to vote and run for office in 2005, notes the Guardian. The lucky ladies include Massouma al-Mubarak, who was appointed Kuwait’s first female cabinet minister in 2005; U.S.-educated professors, Salwa al-Jassar and Aseel al-Awadhi; and economist Rola Dashti. Sixteen women altogether were in the running.
"I think that shows you the tremendous amount of support for women’s role in politics," al-Awadhi told CNN of the historic moment. "And I think today I can confidently say that [the] gender issue is history in Kuwait — I mean, regarding women’s role in politics."
The Daily Telegraph says the election results could be reassuring to those who fear that more democracy in the Middle East will mean more power concentrated among those who support radical Islam.
Read more about: Aseel al-Awadhi, Kuwait, Massouma al-Mubarak, News, Parliamentary Elections, Rola Dashti, Salwa al-Jassar, women, World
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11 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
Right on Deber sometimes we only hear the bad stories and not enough success stories. Although I would love to see our boys coming back soon and hope they stick with the plan. We will have other fish to fry in the future and we need our military to be sharp. BTW we need to help the families of the military more as well. Coming home after being away for so long can not be easy. God bless our soldiers.
Regarding Kuwait, as a woman and resident of Saudi Arabia, I am thrilled. Congratulations to all the women who ran, who voted, and of course those who were elected. A wonderful example for the other Gulf States.