Women's Rights Proposed in Kuwait

(Kuwait City, Kuwait) Woo-hoo! It may almost be time for the Arab equivalent of opening a bottle of champagne. From the Khaleej Times:

In a surprise move, Kuwait's Cabinet asked parliament on Monday to debate and vote on a bill giving women full political rights. The all-male house approved the request despite opposition from fundamentalist lawmakers and was expected to vote on the bill later Monday.

Women activists have for years been pushing for their right to vote and run for parliament. A draft bill giving women their full political rights was defeated in the house last year and women activists this month made it clear that they were fed up with a drawn out debate on a bill widely viewed as a compromise that would allow women only the right to run and vote in municipal elections.

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Although Kuwaiti women have reached high positions in oil, education and the diplomatic corps, the country's 1962 election law limits political rights to men. With only men over 21 who are not members of the police or the military allowed to vote, just over 139,000 are registered to cast ballots out 960,000 Kuwaitis. If the door for women is opened, the figure could reach 339,000.

In those Middle Eastern nations that hold elections, women can vote in all except Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Obviously, passage of the Kuwaiti measure would put pressure on Saudi Arabia.

[Update] By a vote of 35 for, 23 against, and one abstention, the Kuwait Parliament voted to give women the right to vote. Women will also be allowed to run for municipal office and parliament. (via In The Bullpen)