Two female Kuwaiti ministers risk "dismissal" for not wearing the veil

by Kal El on October 22, 2008 · View Comments

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Guess what religion runs that country…

Kuwait City (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The only two women in Kuwait’s executive branch risk being driven out from the government. The parliamentary legal committee has decided that their presence violates the constitution and the law, because they do not wear the hijab, the Islamic veil. The committee’s statement will now be submitted to voting by the fifty members of parliament.

The Kuwaiti parliament is dominated by conservatives, who had four of the seven seats on the committee. But three “liberals” also voted against the two women. “The committee unanimously decided that appointing the two ministers in the cabinet violated article 82 of the constitution and article one of the election law for failing to abide by Islamic regulations,” says Ali al-Hajeri, spokesman for the legal and legislative committee.

The two women under accusation (shown in the photo at a parliamentary session) are education minister Nuriya al-Sebih and administrative development minister Mudhi al-Humoud. Appointed following the elections on May 17, the two women immediately met with negative reactions from conservatives. At its first session, on June 1, parliament approved submission of the matter to the committee, which has now decided. That same day, as cabinet members took the oath, nine parliamentarians left the hall in protest against the “un-Islamic” attire of the two women.

In inaugurating the second parliamentary session today, emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah made no reference to the matter.

Gee imagine that, muslims reacting negatively to a woman in a position of authority. Yeah that’s real equality for women in islam. Where oh where is that imbecile commentor ‘muslimah’ to spout off that islam emancipates women?

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  • jennyjen

    It’s not like they’re in their pajamas or dressed inappropriately for a government meeting. I’m sure they just wanted to be able to see and hear whats going on much like the little girls they interviewed on some news channel (there’s so many of them, I just try to remember the story) not that long ago. She said she wants to go to school so she wears the hijab but one day she hopes to never wear it again. It hurts her eyes (strain to read) and impairs her hearing and she wishes her father would understand. It was really sad.

  • CM

    Well, they’d be able to keep their jobs if they wore the veil. Kuwait is not quite Turkey yet.

  • Chris

    Turkey is heading in the wrong the direction with their Islamic party in control there.

  • jennyjen

    Agree with Chris. Why is the hijab so important? It’s dee dee dee on all levels. These women are members of parliament, if they have gained enough power and respect to sit there, they should also have a say in whether or not they sport a hijab.
    Can the men of the parlament not focus when these two old ladies let their gray hair down, are they overwhelmed with animal-like desires? That’s their problems, go hump a tree. Have a bitchin day!

  • CM

    IMO, you have to be consistent. If you’re going to support a theocracy, then abide by its rules or move to another country. They must have known about this “article 82 of the constitution and article one of the election law” before joining the government. Hopefully this will inspire them, or someone, to amend the laws away from mixing religion and government.

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