Kuwaiti women win right to vote

BBC News reported The Kuwaiti parliament has voted to give women full political rights. The amendment to the Kuwait's electoral law means women can for the first time vote and stand in parliamentary and local elections. It was passed by 35 votes for, 23 against, with one abstention. Council elections are due this year. The result, announced by the speaker of parliament, was greeted with thunderous applause from the public gallery where backers of the amendment were gathered. "I congratulate the women of Kuwait for having achieved their political rights," said Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Sabah issued a decree giving women full political rights in 1999.

The change in the law, which was agreed at the end of a 10-hour session, had previously been blocked by a majority of tribal and Islamist members of parliament. Many of these had argued that Islamic law prohibited women from positions of leadership. The amendment requires women voters and candidates to abide by Islamic law. Correspondents say this is an attempt by the ruling family to reassure Islamists. But it could also place restrictions on women campaigners.

Clayton blogged The democracy virus is spreading--as some neoconservatives claimed that it would. Kuwait has just given women the right to vote and hold public office. This might have happened anyway. Kuwait has long been among the most progressive of Arab countries (which is rather like saying that Cadillacs are among the cheapest of luxury cars), but you wonder if seeing real elections next door where women took part might have caused some of the Islamists in Kuwait to back down.

Damian Penny blogged Kuwaiti women have been granted the right to vote and run for office. Personally, I think we should have insisted on this back in 1991, but it's still a welcome step - although female candidiates will still be bound by "Islamic law"

Marc @USSNeverdock blogged Now if the Saudi's would just let them drive.

Glenn Reynolds blogged This seems like good news. Stay tuned. And don't miss this week's Carnival of the Revolutions, collecting democracy-blogging around the world.

Another Democracy domino falls.