Kuwaiti Cabinet wants to give women the vote

Kuwait’s Cabinet today proposed amending the elections law to allow women to vote and run for Parliament.

A Cabinet statement said the amendment has been approved and referred to the emir, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, who will forward it to Parliament, which must approve any changes to the 1962 law.

In 1999, the emir decreed women could vote and run for Parliament, but the legislature overruled him because his decision was made when Parliament was dissolved and some considered it unconstitutional.

Fundamentalist Muslims and tribal MPs later defeated a women’s rights bill proposed by liberals.

This time, it is believed the Cabinet will push pro-government MPs to vote for the law.