Sunday, May 17, 2009

Women Win Parliamentary Seats for First Time in Kuwait

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Rola Dashti. Photo courtesy of CNN

CNN: Kuwait elected its first female lawmakers in the conservative Gulf state where men have dominated parliament for nearly five decades.

Four women won parliamentary seats in the general elections Saturday, the official Kuwait News Agency said.

Women were first granted the right to vote and run four years ago, but they failed to make inroads in the country's parliament in the past two elections.

Preliminary results released Sunday show that university instructor Aseel al-Awadhi and economist Rola Dashti were among four women who won seats.

The U.S.-educated Al-Awadhi has a doctorate and has been a member of Amnesty International, Kuwait News Agency said.
Dashti has worked as a consultant for several companies and chairs the Kuwait Economists Society, according to the news agency. >>> | Sunday, May 17, 2009