The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : Stifling a movement for reform

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 16, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Editorials

Stifling a movement for reform

The movement for democratic reform in the Arab world has suffered a setback: women in Kuwait have once again been denied the right to vote. Sheikh Sabah al-Jaber al-Sabah, Prime Minister of the oil rich emirate, proposed a legislative measure that would have allowed women to cast ballots in municipal elections; this was approved by parliament on April 19. However, when the Bill came up for ratification for the second time as constitutionally mandated, about half the members abstained from voting and effectively blocked its passage. With the election to be held in early June under the existing law, Kuwaiti women might have to wait another four years before they can vote. If they had won the right, the country's electorate would have nearly doubled. They might have also gained the right to participate in parliamentary elections if this initial barrier had been crossed. Such a fundamental change in the political situation was unacceptable to the religious conservatives and tribal leaders who hold a large number of seats in the legislature. These parliamentarians appear to have learnt nothing from the experience of other emirates in the Arabian Peninsula. There was no shaking up of the existing order in Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain after women took part in elections. In justifying their non-ratification of the bill, Kuwaiti conservatives draw a distinction between their country's political system and the systems of other emirates. They argue that their legislative bodies are far more independent of the ruling families than comparable institutions in the rest of the peninsula. While this may be true, a widening of the franchise would have only demonstrated the strength of Kuwaiti democracy.

The defeat of the legislative measure is attributable partly to the peculiarities of Kuwait politics. Most of those elected to various institutions in the country usually win by very narrow margins. Religious conservatives and tribal leaders have reason to fear that they will not be elected if women's suffrage becomes a reality. Kuwaiti women are well represented in the professions. They are also more assertive socially than their sisters in other emirates. They are likely to rise against the dead hand of conservativism sooner than later. The demand for equal treatment will become stronger if the nascent movement for a re-examination of what passes for Islamic precepts gains ground. The proponents of this movement believe that clerics established their predominance in the Muslim world by misinterpreting religious texts to suit their own purposes. These radicals urge the faithful to take inspiration from the model society set up in Madinah by Prophet Mohammed at the dawn of Islam. This society was pluralistic, humane, egalitarian, and tolerant of dissent. When the reformers call for the revival of a tradition of democratic discourse, they challenge the religious establishments to return to the fundamental principles of the faith.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

Averting a meningitis epidemic

Stifling a movement for reform

Technologies for societal transformation

`Universities must heed wake up call'

Acrimony in Parliament

Immortal song

Not surprising

Remaining above the fray