Female Ministers' Appointment Unconstitutional

Kuwait: Parliament's Committee for Legislative and Legal Affairs, during its meeting on Sunday, signed off on a report stating that the appointment of female Cabinet ministers Nouriya Al-Subaih and Mouhdi Al-Humoud is unconstitutional. The decision is said to stem from the fact that both women do not conform to the Islamic dress code because they refuse to cover their hair.
The committee's convener, Ali Al-Hajeri, announced that the report has been unanimously endorsed by the committee's members and that it is backed up by Article 82 of the Constitution and Article 1 of the Elections Law that stipulates that women should adhere to the Islamic dress code.
(source: Al Watan Newspaper - Sunday 23/11/08)

Historical Background:
Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Sabah issued a decree giving women full political rights in 1999. In a speech to the public, Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah said: "I congratulate the women of Kuwait for having achieved their political rights."
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.