Kuwait Times

Published Date: February 10, 2008
By Ahmad Al-Khaled, Staff Writer

KUWAIT: In light of the recent proposal to eliminate two university level gender segregation laws, the issue of gender segregation is topic number one in diwaniyas and cafes all over Kuwait. "I say we not only scrap the two laws, but the conservative MPs that keep pushing this stuff on us!," said university student Muhamed Salah who added, "In the next election we will vote them out. Halas (finished), we want a modern Kuwait that trusts its sons and daughters to be moral and just without paranoia.

The majority of MPs support state segregation laws so it is highly unlikely that the proposal to scrap them will pass. The first university level segregation law, which required the state's public system to be segregated, was passed in 1996 and implemented in 2001. The second law, which requires private universities to be segregated, was passed in 2000 and has not yet been fully implemented. MP Ali Al-Rashed, one of the three MPs who submitted the proposal to eliminate forced segregation at the university
level, received a death threat via a telephone call last week claiming the law was contrary to local Islamic tradition. Kuwaiti opinion on the issue ranges from die hard conservative pro-segregationists to liberal-minded segregation critics.

Segregation supporters are arguably the most passionate in their opinion which is based solely on religious conviction. "It is against Islam for men and women to congregate on college campuses. MPs must keep segregation laws and furthermore they must require the laws to be enforced!," said Islamist Khalid Abdulrahman. "Sharia is what we base our lives on, nothing else, only Islam which is what all true Muslims want. Segregation is required and that is without question," said Osama Bader. "A government must
protect its people, in particular its youth. Segregation is what the government should insist on for all of Kuwait," said Um Yusef citing the Holy Quran as requiring gender segregation. "We have a duty to show our youth the way and that means segregation and Islam in every area of life. God is great!," said an emphatic Mazen Abdullah.

Segregation opponents cite hypocrisy high on their list of reasons why they believe supporters are wrong. "The government sends students to co-ed schools all over the world, will that be done away with too?," wondered Fala Abdulwahab. "These MPs are too much with this segregation business, they send their children to co-ed schools abroad and then try to demand those that cannot afford to go abroad be stuck with half a library, half a biology lab, and half a computer lab just to satisfy their egos," said F
atma Ali.

Many Kuwaitis dislike laws regulating issues like segregation, which they believe are personal in nature. "We are a free society and as such, should have free choice to send our children to segregated schools or co-education schools. We do not need policing in these areas," said Wasmiya Faisal. "One gets the feeling that segregation is step one in a plan to limit citizens choices. We are Muslims and we love Islam, we do not need somebody in Parliament telling us how to be good Muslims," said Saad Barrak.


MPs should work on laws making sure we have enough water and power to get through next summer without power outages, they should build roads and schools and improve medical care. They do not need to pass laws to impose their morals on my family. Islam is between me and my God not me and Parliament," said Khalifa Ziyad.

While opponents note the high cost of implementing segregation laws as one reason for their opposition, their main reasons are principle based. "I do not think we, as a people, need these laws to force us to send our children to one school or another. Surely they should be overturned as we have no need to be forced one way or the other," said Talal Nasser.