US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT941

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 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL 
USDOC FOR 4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKS 
USDOC FOR ITA AND PTO/OLIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KU, KDMR, WOMEN'S 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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LEBARON