Kuwait: women's access to the army, a fight still ongoing
In Kuwait, women have been allowed to join the army since October, but the Ministry of Defense has just announced new rules which limit the positions they can claim.
(Illustrative image) AFP - YASSER AL-ZAYYAT
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In Kuwait, women can join the army, but without carrying a weapon.
After a law allowing them access to the uniform last October, the Ministry of Defense announced new rules which limit the positions to which they can claim.
On the side of feminist activists, the fight has therefore resumed with renewed vigor.
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Women's access
to the army was a victory for human rights activists.
But in the face of outrage from conservative MPs, the Ministry of Defense decided to follow a fatwa issued by Kuwaiti religious authorities.
Military women will be required to wear certain Islamic clothing.
They are also forbidden to have a weapon.
An unacceptable manipulation for Hadeel Buqrais, human rights activist.
“
What really irritates us is that this has nothing to do with Islam.
Islam does not make women inferior to men.
Islam, on the contrary, pushes women to be equal to men.
They try to use religion in a political way, to demonstrate that women's rights go against those of men, Islam and our society.
We are trying to prove to them that it is wrong
,” said Hadeel Buqrais.
Rallies for the laws of the land to change
The human rights activist believes that in
Kuwait
, there is a strong history of solidarity and that women are capable of fighting for their rights: “
We have a lot of men who support us.
For now, the army is still at the stage of the first registration of women so things may still change in the coming months.
»
Other events added to the anger: the ban by the authorities on a yoga retreat and the censorship of certain advertisements ahead of Women's Rights Day.
Rallies are organized in the heart of the capital as well as reflections to modify the laws of the country.
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To read also: In Kuwait, women angry at discrimination in the army
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Kuwait
Womens rights