In Kuwait, Islamists Challenge Women Candidates For Parliament

According to AFP, 19 women are running in Kuwait's May 16 Parliamentary elections-- all hoping to become the first women in Parliament. However at least one Islamic group has issued a fatwa declaring that voting for women candidates violates Islamic law. One of the leading women contenders is Aseel al-Awadhi. According to the Arab Times last week, the Thawabit Al-Ummah bloc has filed a lawsuit against her charging her with sacrilege. It claims she challenges the Islamic religion and has raised doubts about women wearing the hijab. The group wants an apology from those women who have questioned the hijab.