US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1947

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001947 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, KWMN, KU, WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: WOMEN'S RIGHTS: AN UPDATE FROM THE FRONT LINE 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 1907 
 
     B. KUWAIT 1901 
     C. KUWAIT 1863 
     D. 04 KUWAIT 4540 
 
Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Two female women's rights delegations met 
with Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on May 9 
to discuss the GOK's position on the issue of women's 
political rights.  Both groups pledged not to discuss the 
details of the meeting and promised not to protest or rally 
in support of women's political rights before the May 16 
session.  Despite public assurances from Interior Minister 
Nawaf Al-Ahmad of the GOK's intent to grant Kuwaiti women 
full political rights, and PM Shaykh Sabah's public 
confidence in the success of the municipal rights legislation 
in the upcoming May 16 session of Parliament, many women 
still privately expressed doubts about the outcome of the 
women's rights legislation (ref C).  Although some still 
oppose legislation granting women political rights at the 
Municipal Council level, all pledged to continue to pursue 
national level political rights. End Summary 
 
PM Requests Silence, Delivers Only Vague Assurances 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
2. (U) Two groups of women's rights activists met with PM 
Shaykh Sabah at the Council of Ministers on May 9 to discuss 
the status of women's political rights in Kuwait.  The first 
delegation was led by Shaykha Latifa Al-Fahad Al-Salem 
Al-Sabah, the chair of the Kuwaiti Union of Women's Societies 
and the second by Shaykha Dr. Souad bint Mohammed Al-Sabah. 
(Note: Shaykha Latifa Al-Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah is the 
grandaughter of Amir Shaykh Salem (1917-1921) and the only 
wife of current Kuwaiti Crown Prince Saad Al-Abdullah 
Al-Salem Al-Sabah.  Shaykha Souad bint Mohammed, mother of 
young and influential Shaykh Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak 
(ref D), was married to Abdullah Al-Mubarak, son of Kuwaiti 
Amir Mubarak the Great (1896-1915). End Note.)  The second 
group also included prominent liberal women's activists Dr. 
Ma'souma Mubarak, Dr. Rola Dashti, Maha Al-Barges, and 
Kawthar Al-Jou'aan. All women involved acceded to PM Shaykh 
Sabah's request to not speak publicly about the details of 
the meeting and to not agitate for women's rights before the 
May 16 session of Parliament, during which the issue of 
municipal level political rights is expected to come to the 
floor for debate and a possible vote. 
 
3. (C) Kuwait University political science professor and 
women's rights activist Dr. Ma'souma Mubarak told EmbOff that 
nothing tangible resulted from the meeting and that PM Shaykh 
Sabah gave nothing more than the promise to keep pressing on 
the issue of women's rights.  She confided that all women 
present agreed to not escalate efforts or rhetoric in the 
run-up to the May 16 Parliamentary session.  Dr. Ma'souma 
said that this weakened their position because they were 
planning to intensify efforts in the coming week but would 
not now because of the promise. 
 
4. (C) Women's rights activist and head of the Kuwait 
Economics Society Dr. Rola Dashti told EmbOff that the 
meeting with PM Shaykh Sabah was not encouraging.  Her 
impression was that the PM was only concerned about passing 
the municipal rights bill and was not serious about women's 
national political rights.  She said he expressed unhappiness 
over the statements issued by women's right's activists and 
liberal NGOs urging the defeat of the Municipal Council 
rights legislation (ref C).  Dr. Rola said that the PM 
referred to her as "a troublemaker" when shaking hands.  She 
is concerned that accepting only municipal level rights would 
freeze the rights movement until 2009, when the next 
Municipal Council elections are scheduled to be held.  Dr. 
Rola asked PM Shaykh Sabah during the meeting to refer the 
issue to the constitutional court if nothing can be done on 
the matter in Parliament.  (Note and Comment: Article one of 
the election law limits national level political rights to 
men, despite the fact that Kuwait's Constitution makes no 
distinction between men and women in Article 80, which calls 
for "universal suffrage" and in Article 82, which states that 
"a member of the National Assembly shall be a Kuwaiti by 
origin in accordance with law."  Referring the election law 
to the constitutional court is a risky endeavor.  If the 
court upholds the current election law, then conservatives 
will be armed with a legal ruling against women's suffrage. 
If the court were to declare the election law 
unconstitutional, thus according Kuwaiti women full political 
rights, the opposition may claim that the court was 
influenced or that it has no right to make social law that 
contradicts their version of Shari'a.  They are also likely 
to argue that it is better to gain parliamentary consensus on 
the issue if the society is to accept the change. End Note 
and Comment.) 
 
5. (C) Activist Maha Al-Barges told EmbOff that the women all 
agreed to not discuss the details of their meeting with the 
PM.  That said, she divulged to EmbOff that PM Shaykh Sabah 
promised to pass the municipal rights legislation on May 16 
and to keep pressing for full political rights.  The PM 
cautioned, however, that full political rights may not be 
realized during this year's parliamentary session which is 
scheduled to end on June 28. 
 
6. (C) Activist and attorney Kawthar Al-Jou'aan said the 
meeting was a good one and that she believes the PM is 
serious about pursuing women's political rights, although she 
believes some of his ministers may not be supportive of the 
measure.  She told EmbOff that it was the first time she has 
felt "optimistic about (women's) rights." 
 
The Strike That Struck Out 
-------------------------- 
 
7. (SBU) A rally and women's work strike planned for May 8 
never materialized (ref B).  The rally and strike were 
intended, at least by some, to pressure the GOK to support 
national level political rights for women.  Others did not 
actively support the rally or the strike and were not 
surprised at its failure. 
 
-- Maha Al-Barges told EmbOff that there was no coordination 
on any strike, rally, or work stoppage. 
 
-- Dr. Ma'souma Mubarak remarked that the idea's short notice 
and weak planning led to its failure saying that it wasn't 
realistic "for Kuwaiti women to gather on a request in less 
than 48 hours." 
 
-- Dr. Rola Dashti told EmbOff that "the intention was not to 
stage a rally or a sit-in.  We left it to each woman to adopt 
a suitable position she deemed fit." 
 
-- Activist Shaykha Al-Nisf said that holding a strike, 
particularly in front of the National Assembly would be 
"useless" and would not lead to women gaining their rights. 
 
Next Steps 
---------- 
 
8. (C) All women publicly and privately vowed to continue 
pressing for women's national political rights.  Some like 
Maha Al-Barges, told EmbOff that women will not oppose the 
municipal rights bill but they will continue to push for 
national level political rights.  Others are likely to 
continue opposing the municipal level legislation viewing it 
as a half-measure that ignores the absence of the more 
relevant Parliamentary rights.  In addition, should the 
measure pass, women would not be eligible to participate in 
the Municipal Council elections until 2009.  While Dr. Rola 
Dashti remains hopeful, she believes that certain elements 
within the GOK are opposing the PM's efforts.  She appealed 
publicly to PM Shaykh Sabah to "foil a major conspiracy being 
hatched by a number of leading ministers against women's 
rights."  She also appealed to the U.S. to refuse to receive 
the Prime Minister who plans to visit Washington in July. 
 
********************************************* 
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
********************************************* 
LEBARON