Kuwait Elects First Women to Parliament

Four women take seats

By Amelia Atlas, Newser User

Posted May 17, 2009 5:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Kuwaitis have elected the first women ever to become members of Parliament, reports the BBC. US-educated Aseel al-Awadhi and Rola Dashti won seats in regional votes. Former Health Minister Massouma al-Mubarak, who was the first Kuwaiti woman to be appointed to a ministerial post, and Salwa al-Jassar also secured seats. "It's a victory for Kuwaiti women and for Kuwaiti democracy," said Awadhi. Women have only been eligible to vote and run for office since 2005.

[Images (5)]

[Quotes (1)]

Winning parliamentarian candidate, Salwa Al-Jassar, receives a bouquet of flowers at her campaign headquarters in Shamiya, Kuwait City, early today. (AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari)

A Kuwaiti campaign worker distributes leaflets during the country's parliamentarian elections at a polling station in Salwa, Kuwait City, yesterday. (AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari)

A Kuwaiti woman casts her vote in a polling station in Salwa, Kuwait, during parliamentarian elections yesterday. (AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari)

Assel Al-Awadi speaks at a press conference last year. (AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari)

Winning parliamentarian candidate for the third constituency, Dr. Asil Al-Awadi, celebrates her victory with supporters at her campaign headquarters in, Kuwait City, early today. (AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari)

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Kuwait Elects First Women to Parliament