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| Arabia |
| Kuwaiti woman politician survives vote |
| 2008-01-22 |
| Kuwait's only female politician survived an attempt to oust her Tuesday by conservative lawmakers who accused her of mismanagement and endangering traditional religious values. Hundreds of female supporters applauded and ululated from the galleries as parliament voted 27-19, with two abstentions, against the impeachment of Education Minister Nouria al-Subeih, a pioneer in this small oil-rich Gulf state where women were only allowed to participate in political life in 2005. "We're so happy we can fly," said Mona Hassan, a 52-year-old school principal, as she left the gallery. "This is a victory for Kuwaiti women. Allow (the other) half of society to work and watch the results." Clad in a black pantsuit, al-Subeih, who doesn't wear the Muslim headscarf unlike nearly all women in this overwhelmingly conservative society, stood up and waved to the crowds, while lawmakers shook her hand. Al-Subeih is a political independent who has wide support among Westernized liberals who have dubbed her Kuwait's "Iron Lady" because she stands up to conservatives. Many female activists believe al-Subeih's opponents simply want to remove the only female Cabinet member in a country that still does not totally accept women in politics. Rest at link. |
| Posted by:ed |