US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1633

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001633 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KWMN, PHUM, KU, WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: KUWAITI WOMEN MOVE TOWARD NEW POLITICAL RIGHTS; 
SOME FEAR FIRST STEP MAY BE LAST FOR THIS YEAR 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 1600 
     B. KUWAIT 1404 
 
Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (U) Summary: Kuwaiti women moved one step closer toward 
gaining political rights April 19 as Parliament voted to 
allow women to vote in elections for and run for Municipal 
Council (ref A). The amendment to the Municipality Law 
granting women these new political rights is scheduled to 
face another vote on May 2 before it can go to the Amir for 
final approval. While the bill is expected to pass the second 
vote, the high number of opposing votes on April 19 may be 
fodder for plans to derail granting women full political 
rights. End summary. 
 
Second Round Voting Scheduled, Elections to be Delayed 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
2. (U) The National Assembly approved a first-round vote to 
amend the Municipality Law to permit women to vote in 
Municipal Council elections and hold a Council seat, either 
through election or appointment by the Amir. A second round 
vote is scheduled for May 2. A second bill, delaying 
Municipal elections until October, won approval as well. The 
postponement is designed to allow time for women to register 
to vote and campaign should they decide to run. Voting 
registers are normally open only in February, but the bill 
stipulates the preparation of a list of eligible women voters 
within three months of the legislation's passage. 
 
Doing the Math 
-------------- 
 
3. (U) A closer look at the April 19 vote reveals a greater 
number of MPs opposed the Municipality amendment than 
supported it. The measure received 26 votes in favor and 20 
against. Of the 'yes' votes, Council Ministers represented 14 
while MPs the remaining 12. All of the 20 dissenters, 
however, were MPs. An additional three MPs were expected to 
vote in favor but abstained (Hussein Al-Qallaf, Saleh Ashour 
and Salah Khorshed, all Shi'a.) Another 12 MPs were not 
present for the vote, most of whom, it is reported, oppose 
women's political rights. Justice Minister Ahmad Al-Baqer, a 
Salafi Islamist, refused to attend the vote due to his 
opposition to extending political rights to women; however, 
he had not publicly opposed women's participation at the 
Municipal level in the past. Like in the first round of 
voting, the amendment will require a simple majority of the 
votes cast to pass, provided a quorum of the 64 Assembly 
members. The amendment is expected to pass the second round. 
 
High Number of 'No' Votes Ammunition for Rights Opponents 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
4. (C) Women's rights activist Dr. Moudi Al-Humoud told 
poloff April 20 that Parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, 
who opposes granting full political rights to women, may use 
the large number of MPs opposing the Municipality Law 
amendment (20 against versus 12 in favor) as justification to 
halt the progress of a bill to grant women the right to 
participate on the parliamentary level (ref B). (Note: 
Al-Khorafi voted against women's rights in the past but told 
the Ambassador he was now in favor of extending suffrage. End 
note.) According to Al-Humoud, Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah 
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with whom she and other activists 
met three weeks ago, is still committed to women's suffrage, 
but he listens to Al-Khorafi more than to any other Kuwaiti 
politician. Al-Khorafi, who fears support for women's full 
political rights will result in his defeat in next year's 
elections, may dissuade the PM from pushing women's political 
rights legislation for a vote this parliamentary session, 
scheduled to end in June. The draft legislation is still with 
the Assembly's Interior and Defense Committee, which is due 
to issue a report on the topic. 
 
Municipal Council Participation a Positive First Step? 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
5. (U) Al-Humoud declared that yesterday's vote was a 
"turning point for women, no doubt about it." Dr. Rola 
Dashti, head of the Kuwait Economic Society and an outspoken 
women's activist, told an English-language daily that the 
vote was "a major gain for Kuwait and democracy." She added, 
"We were worried that women may not be able to participate in 
municipality elections." Energy Minister Ahmad Fahd Al-Ahmad 
Al-Sabah spoke of the vote breaking a psychological barrier 
and being the first step toward women's full political 
participation. One activist, however, Naima Al-Shayeji, 
feared that the April 19 vote would result in a loss of 
momentum for the granting of full political rights for women. 
She asked, "Why do Kuwaiti women have to get their rights in 
doses?" 
 
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LEBARON