Kuwait's only female minister survived an attempt to oust her Tuesday by Islamist lawmakers who accused her of mismanagement and endangering traditional religious values. Hundreds of female supporters applauded as parliament voted 27-19, with two abstentions, against the impeachment of Education Minister Nouria al-Subeih, the AP reported.
Female activists believe al-Subeih's opponents simply want to remove her because they still can not totally accept women in politics. She was appointed to the cabinet last March becoming only the second woman minister in the oil-rich Gulf emirate.
Al-Subeih, who started her career as a teacher more than 30 years ago, had to defend herself earlier this month before parliament against allegations that she had attempted to deceive the nation when she denied a press report that three male students had been sexually assaulted by an Asian worker at a state school. She explained she had been misinformed and issued an apology.
Islamist lawmaker Saad al-Shreih also accused al-Subeih of not showing enough respect for Islam when she did not punish a 14-year-old girl who had allegedly drawn a cross on her religion text book and scribbled notes on it that she hated Islam.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
