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The Kuwaiting Game: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back.

We've noted in the past how women in Kuwait are beginning to gain more political rights.

Indeed, one of our caption contest subjects dealt with Kuwaiti women being granted the right to vote in upcoming municipal elections.

Those rights were dealt a blow recently:

In a major setback to Kuwaiti women in politics, Islamist and conservative tribal lawmakers created a constitutional crisis that will delay consideration of a draft election law long enough to keep women out of this year's race for municipal council seats.

Peter Berkowitz of The Weekly Standard believes Kuwaiti women have "Kuwaited Long Enough":

...why do Kuwaiti women still lack the right to vote in national elections, to run for national office, or to serve as judges? And why do so many Kuwaiti women, including the well-to-do and well-educated, seem not to mind terribly much?

Freedom House explains the situation in Kuwait:

Kuwait is one of only two countries in the Middle East and North Africa that do not permit universal suffrage, even though its constitution grants equal rights to men and women. The country's parliament is elected by popular vote, but only about 15 percent of the country's 950,000 citizens are eligible to cast ballots.

This is a perfect example of the dramatic dance of democracy in the Middle East today. There's a long way to go, yet. Sometimes we'll witness a step forward, other times two steps back. In the end, there is a right side and a wrong side of history. It's unfortunate that some obstructionists in Kuwait, so clearly on the wrong side of history, are able to delay women such a basic right for any longer.

Posted by Will Franklin · 9 May 2005 04:21 PM

Comments

Posted by: Zsa Zsa at May 9, 2005 06:16 PM

Posted by: Walter at May 9, 2005 07:08 PM

Posted by: Homer at May 9, 2005 09:05 PM

Posted by: Rosemary at May 10, 2005 06:37 AM