(C) C-NE6-01698: KUWAITI ISLAMISTS' INITIATIVES ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004579

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND INR/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KISL KWMN KU ISLAMISTS
SUBJECT: (C) C-NE6-01698: KUWAITI ISLAMISTS' INITIATIVES ON
WOMEN'S ISSUES

REF: A. STATE 173333

B. KUWAIT 4075

C. KUWAIT 3984

Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d)


1. (C/NF) Summary and comment: The women's issues
legislation recently drafted by Islamist parliamentarians
aims to increase state benefits provided to Kuwaiti women,
not change their social and political status. It is likely
the result of women's suffrage and recent electoral reforms
resulting in larger constituencies, which are forcing MPs to
build a broader base of support, and does not represent any
significant change in Islamists' position on women's rights
issues. Islamist MP Ahmed Baqer said the proposal included
some Islamist initiatives intended to protect women, such as
prohibiting them from working in men's barbershops and other
potentially morally degrading professions. A number of
Islamist MPs have established committees/times to receive
their female constituents' requests. Islamists have proven
pragmatic within limits on women's issues as demonstrated
during the June 2006 parliamentary elections. The Secretary
General of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) told
Poloff that the ICM's stance on women's issues had moderated
to some extent due to the increased influence of moderates
within the organization. He expressed hope that by the next
elections or the following ones the ICM could even nominate
women to run for Parliament.


2. (C/NF) Comment: In order to appeal to a larger
electorate, Islamists are likely to continue to try to get
out in front on issues like fighting corruption, promoting
economic development, defending Bidoon (stateless Arabs)
rights, and obtaining more state benefits for women. The
ICM, the largest and most well-organized political
association in Kuwait, is most successful at this and their
six MPs tend to be some of the most vocal advocates for these
issues. While the ICM's current leadership tends to be more
moderate on women's rights issues, the organization's
conservative tribal base is more resistant to social changes.
Other members of the Islamic Bloc are similarly influenced
by their conservative, predominantly tribal constituencies on
social issues. These social factors will likely continue to
influence Islamist parliamentarians' positions on women's
issues, even those who themselves hold more moderate
opinions. End summary and comment.

Islamists Support More Benefits for Women
--------------


3. (C/NF) The women's proposal recently drafted by Islamist
parliamentarians (ref C) is primarily a political move
intended to win the support of their new female constituents,
and does not represent any significant change in their
position on women's rights issues. It is important to note
that the proposal is concerned with increasing the benefits
provided to Kuwaiti women, not their social and political
status. While it was drafted by four Islamist MPs, the
proposal is supported by the entire 17-member Islamic Bloc.
Salafi MP Ahmed Baqer, a former Minister of Justice and the
Coordinator of the Islamic Bloc, told Poloff that while the
proposal's chief aim was to increase women's social benefits,
it also included some Islamist initiatives, such as
prohibiting women from working in men's barbershops and other
potentially morally degrading professions. He explained that
this was intended to protect women.


4. (SBU) In a recent interview, Baqer said the Islamic Bloc
attaches great importance to women's issues and supports
legislation banning "the manipulation of women"; easing
retirement for mothers of handicapped children; providing
employment for sons of Kuwaiti mothers; granting employment
benefits to non-working housewives caring for their children;
and giving housing and rental allowances to all Kuwaiti
women. In late-October, independent Islamist MP Faisil
Al-Muslim submitted two separate proposals to increase
benefits provided to Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaiti
men, specifically exempting their children from paying
residence fees and providing them with free health care.
(Note: Children born in Kuwait inherit the nationality of
their father. End note.)

Islamists Pragmatic on Women's Issues, Within Limits
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) Islamists have proven relatively pragmatic on
women's issues, albeit within limits, and have been willing
to alter their position when politically expedient. For
example, during the June 2006 elections Islamist candidates,

KUWAIT 00004579 002 OF 002


some of whom voted against women's suffrage legislation in
2005, actively courted female voters, establishing women's
campaign committees staffed by their female relatives and
friends and hosting women at their election tents. MP Jaman
Al-Hirbish, a member of the Women's Affairs Committee in
Parliament and the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM),the
political arm of the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood, announced
recently that his female staff would answer questions and
receive requests from female constituents at his diwaniya
every Saturday evening. Another ICM MP, Dr. Nasser Al-Sane,
also announced recently that he would "form a women's
consultative committee to inform (him) of the demands of
women in (his) constituency and take them to the Parliament."
Other Islamist MPs have similarly established means of
receiving requests for assistance from their female
constituents.

ICM Moderates Influencing Position on Women's Issues?
-------------- --------------


6. (C/NF) Dr. Bader Al-Nashi, the Secretary General of the
ICM, told Poloff December 5 that the ICM's more moderate wing
was gaining influence vis-a-vis its more conservative
elements, particularly after the ICM gained four seats in the
2006 parliamentary elections. Evidence of this can be seen
in the organization's more moderate approach on women's
issues, he argued. He added that the ICM would soon
establish an internal Women's Committee, something that would
not have been possible several years ago due to opposition
from conservatives within the organization. Al-Nashi also
expressed hope that the ICM would one day, "maybe in four or
eight years," be able to nominate women to run for Parliament.

********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
LEBARON