After four decades of disenfranchisement, Kuwaiti women have finally won their battle, writes Sherine Bahaa "We did it!" Kuwaiti women exclaimed, following news that the parliament had passed the law granting women the right to vote and contest elections for the first time in their country's history. Kuwaiti members of parliament raised their hands in favour of a law enfranchising women's political rights. It was a historical moment for all Kuwaiti women. Ululation, euphoria and applause filled the parliament's halls while outside the headquarters of the House, people danced and cheered as drivers hooted their horns in support of the bill as they roamed around the premises. The all-male parliament passed the law with a wide majority on Monday after a marathon nine- hour session. Thirty five voted in favour, 23 against and one abstained in the vote that had met strong opposition from Islamists and conservative tribal MPs. Unfortunately, the move came too late for next month's municipal elections and Kuwaiti women will not be able to practice this right before the 2007 municipal elections. In fact, the whole nine-hour drama session inside the halls of the parliament was something of a surprise. The meeting of the legislators had not been previously announced. On Sunday afternoon, the cabinet issuing an urgent call to the law-makers. At first, law-makers predicted it was set to discuss a controversial law vote on a law that could have opened the door for women to participate in the 2009 elections for a partially elected municipal elections. That bill was suggested two weeks ago but was rejected at the time. Instead, the cabinet opened the session by proposing a complete amendment of the country's elections law. The government invoked a rarely used "order for urgency" term to push through the legislation in one session. The new bill amends the country's 1962 elections law that has kept women out of the political scene for more than four decades. The amendment removed the word "men" from Article 1 of the elections law. Islamist legislators, apparently trying to appease their conservative voting base, insisted on including a requirement that necessitated that "females abide by Islamic law". The implications of that clause were not immediately clear, though women's advocates implied it might just mean separate polling places for men and women. Even this ambiguous phrase failed to dampen the euphoria that swept the country after this historical decision. "I am over-excited, I can not believe this," said Rola Dashti, a United States educated economist. Dashti said she would run in the next parliamentary elections, in 2007. To be honest, Kuwait is one of the first democracies among the Persian Gulf nations. Grilling and no confidence votes to the government are common aspects of Kuwait's political scene, but it stood short of allowing women to play its role in their country politics. Kuwaiti women are traditionally more liberal and educated than their Gulf Arab counterparts. Dressed according to the latest Western fashion, holding senior posts at vital places, and driving cars, are all common occurrences in the tiny oil rich emirate. Though attempts to pass such a bill granting women political rights have been aborted continuously as a means of political manoeuvring mainly on the part of Islamists and tribal for political interests. This time, the pro- reform oriented government tempted them by agreeing to a popular bill to raise salaries for most public and private employees. The Kuwaiti government was very keen to pass the bill before next month's expected visit by the prime minister to Washington. Monday's vote can raise the number of eligible voters in the country to 339,000 from 139,000 depending on how many wish to practise the right.
