MEDIA REACTION - WOMEN'S VOTING RIGHTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000941

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA
STATE FOR IIP/G/NEA-SA, INR/B
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE
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USDOC FOR 4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKS
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KU KDMR WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - WOMEN'S VOTING RIGHTS


1. Summary: With National Assembly discussion of the
proposed bill granting women their political rights
scheduled for March 7, media speculation on the bill's
chances, and attempts to rally both support and opposition,
has reached a steady pitch. While handicapping has evinced
no clear favorite, and democratic and Islamic arguments are
bandied back and forth, most commentators seem to agree
that passage depends on how aggressively the government,
led by Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed, pushes for it.
Independent Faihan Al-Otaibi wrote, "it may be observed
that the government seems to be bashful while defending its
proposal to grant the Kuwaiti women their suffrage. In
other words, we have not yet seen any enthusiasm from the
government side for the proposal in question or get the
bill passed in the National Assembly." End Summary.


2. Liberal columnist Abdullatif Al-Duaij wrote in Al-Qabas
(3/1): "All of us must strongly support those who call for
imparting suffrage on Kuwaiti women irrespective of their
real objectives and intentions. In other words, we must
work together to create a necessary atmosphere to pave the
way to give Kuwaiti women their rights."


3. Liberal columnist and director of Kuwait University's
Center for Strategic and Future Studies Dr. Shamlan Al-Issa
wrote in Al-Seyassah (3/1): "In spite of the developments
and changes witnessed in Kuwait, particularly during the
second half of the last century, it is unfortunate the
Kuwaiti women's political rights are still in limbo. This
attitude proves our community still has a section which is
incapable of keeping in line with the process of evolution
and modernization which is widely seen in other parts of
the world. Unfortunately, this section of the people
enjoys a significant influence in the National Assembly."


4. Independent columnist and attorney Mohammed Musaed Al-
Saleh wrote in Al-Qabas (3/2): "The Muslim Brotherhood
Group can be looked upon as the biggest Islamic movement in
the Arab world because this group has branches in all Arab
countries. Interestingly, the Muslim Brotherhood Group in
Egypt has called for granting the Kuwaiti women their
political rights 'in an attempt to ingrain genuine Islamic
principles.' For his part, the deputy leader of the Muslim
Brotherhood Group of Egypt, Dr. Mohammed Habib, was quoted
by [Kuwaiti Arabic-language daily] Al-Rai Al-Aam as saying
the political rights are the simplest rights which must be
given to women. He added that there is no evidence in
Islam to prevent Muslim women from enjoying their full
political rights."


5. Independent Faihan Al-Otaibi wrote in Al-Watan (3/5): "A
study completed by the Higher Advisory Committee for
Completion of the Implementation of the Islamic Sharia has
confirmed that Islam allows women to practice their
political rights. In spite of the above, it may be
observed that the government seems to be bashful while
defending its proposal to grant the Kuwaiti women their
suffrage. In other words, we have not yet seen any
enthusiasm from the government side for the proposal in
question or get the bill passed in the National Assembly."


6. Independent Khalid Al-Jenfawi wrote in Al-Seyassah
(3/5): "I cannot claim that I am an expert in telepathy,
but one can expect the opposition shown by some MPs to the
proposal to give suffrage to the Kuwaiti women can be
attributed to the relevant lawmakers' desire to dominate
the political dialogue in the National Assembly and to
continue to enjoy the related privileges. In this context,
we suggest those who currently oppose the country's
democratic march represented by granting the Kuwaiti women
their political rights have actually realized the
endorsement of the Kuwaiti women's suffrage will radically
change the rules of the political game in the country,
given the fact those who currently oppose suffrage for
women are obviously keen to keep the current rules
unchanged."


7. Ahmad Abdel Rahman Al-Koos wrote in independent Al-Watan
(3/6): "Looking into the subject of women's political
rights, all we see are illusions and fantasies. By
entering parliament, will women's problems cease to exist?
If she does receive her alleged rights, will she become the
ideal woman? I believe not one woman will be elected to
the National Assembly. When one considers that in some
Arab countries, where women have achieved political rights,
and have been practicing these rights for decades, their
success even now is very limited. I fear if women here
could not be elected in the National Assembly for one
reason or another, supporters of women's rights and
political activists, would demand a forcible appointment of
women. Perhaps, they would once again, seek the backing of
the United States and Europe to fulfill their desire in
achieving to sit in the comfortable settees provided by the
National Assembly."


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