KUWAITI WOMEN SUFFRAGE - BOMBARDMENT ON KUWAITI ELECTION LAW.

National Assembly passed the historic women suffrage bill on Monday and amended Article 1 of Election law (Law No. 35 of 1962 regarding the election of the National Assembly Members) which in turn granted the Kuwaiti women the right to vote in 2007 elections. After a long crusade eventually the Kuwaiti women obtained the right to even contest for ministerial positions.

The bold declaration of Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on October 26, 2004 giving his consent and urging the MPS to bring in a bill granting women full political right was the first official move in this regard.

Being a lawyer practicing Kuwaiti law for more than three decades I strongly recommend complete democracy in Kuwait.

Women's right to vote is a key factor for broadening the voter base which ultimately brings in more political and economic reforms with the active and absolute participation of the entire population. Democracy without women suffrage is 'paralyzed democracy' and during the last 40 years we were experiencing a 'paralyzed democratic system'. There is only one country left in the world where the women are denied of their voting rights. The rulers should rule the country after gaining the confidence of all the citizens through the ballot box instead of gaining the support of few. Nevertheless, this will also cut short the corruption due to redtapism and favoritism in the system because when there are only fewer participants it is easy to corrupt them.

Kuwait's financial system is undergoing a great overhaul to meet the demands of what is expected to be a more sophisticated system. Old and boring ways of the past are being discarded in many areas. There is active involvement of women in all the fields. It is all the more ironic because educated women are taking up the positions of doctors, engineers and lawyers but they are denied of the right to participate in the general elections of their country. Since 1962, women have been constantly urging for their rights and it is no longer possible to ignore the dominance of females. Moreover, the government will also be blamed by the international community for its reluctance to grant its women citizens the right to vote.

Article 29 of the Kuwait's constitution prescribes that, "All people are equal in human dignity and in public rights and duties before the law" on the other hand the election law limits political rights to male citizens over the age of twenty-one. Cases are filed even before the highest courts of Kuwait against this injustice.

Universal suffrage is not against Islam. Certainly, Islam, in its fundamental teachings, symbolizes and holds a constitutional, democratic, just, and responsible electoral government. Islam ensures fundamental freedoms and human rights, including freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association to everyone. For example., when a Muslim man marries a non- Muslim Islam does not prohibit her from practicing her religion and in fact it prescribes that care should be taken to ensure that she is given the freedom to follow her rituals and practices. In a Muslim country fundamental freedom should be extended to all citizens, men and women alike. If women are denied of some particular right it shows that human rights are not aptly protected as per the terms of Islam and as a result denial of the right to vote can be cited as 'anti Islam'. Instead of bluntly denying the involvement of females in elections or in electoral institutions we should discuss how to uphold democratic practices and participatory governance through proper guidance from Islam. Indonesia being the world's largest Muslim country supports females' role in elections. In Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco and Oman women has the right to vote. Democratic institutions must be established to protect and to foster the development of the rights and freedoms not to bulldoze it. Moreover, the contribution of Islam should be taken into account as a religious system than as a major authority on the sociopolitical ambiance in which elections take place. There is the need to develop specific strategies for governance rather than relying on pre-set formulae. Kuwait's Islamist Umma Party recently announced that it backs female franchise which is a welcome move.

In the light of above mentioned facts, I strongly urge endorsement of Kuwaiti women's political rights.

( Prepared by Mr. Abdul Razzaq Abdullah, Managing Partner of ARALF law firm, published in Daily Star, Herald Tribune, Published on March 03, 2005 )

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