Kuwait Times

Published Date: October 14, 2009
By Badrya Darwish

I wouldn't like to be in MP Rola Dashti's shoes nowadays while she is fighting to amend an article of the election law. The article in question was a precondition by a few Islamist MPs when women were granted the right to vote and run for office in 2005. The article stipulates that women candidates or voters should comply with shariah guidelines. However, no guidelines were specified by the article. The general interpretation of these guidelines was that women should wear a hijab (headscarf) in parliament.
The article was very weak and failed to specify details, such as does it refer to women MPs and ministers or does it apply to visitors and journalists in parliament.

Dashti argues that this article is not constitutional and the constitution is clear. It gives women and men who are over 25 the right to vote and run for parliament regardless of their gender. There is no mention of any shariah guidelines. But the Islamist legislators are taking this issue at a higher level.

The constitutional court will sit on Oct 25 to resolve the matter. Come that day and what will be the outcome? Scenario one: If the court rules in favor of MP Hayef and company (the extreme Islamists), what will happen to our two unveiled MPs - Aseel Al-Awadhi and Dashti herself? Would they be forced to wear a hijab and what would happen if they refuse?!!! I do not want to even think about it.
Second scenario goes like this: What if the constitutional court's verdict agrees with Dashti?.... Wishful thinking. Just imagine the furor that will take place amongst the different factions of society? It is a recipe for disaster which Kuwait does not need, let alone now.

How come the issue of hijab and niqab and the dress code among women is a major issue in the Arab World today? As I already wrote earlier this week, Egypt has a dispute over hijab or niqab. It looks like everything is peaceful in the Middle East. Business is booming. Economy is flourishing. Democracy prevails everywhere. There is stability and security at its best. Israel is withdrawing from Gaza and the West Bank. Settlements belong to bygone times. Iraq is quiet and peaceful. Taleban in Afghanistan are
at peace and they will be having chai (tea) with President Obama soon. The turmoil in Darfur is over. The swine flu vaccine is safe. We are living in a peaceful world.
Have a peaceful day, guys!!!