Regional women's rights reform/reversal roundup - Gulf News

Algeria. Algerian women’s groups yesterday accused President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika of caving in to Islamic parties by watering down a long-awaited reform to improve women’s rights in the country. Unexpectedly, Bouteflika this week ruled against abolishing a regulation that forces women to get permission from a family member or so-called tutor to marry, a requirement which critics have called discriminatory and out of date. “It is a grave discrimination against women, who will remain minors for life,” Meriem Belaala, president of the rights group SOS Women in Distress, said.

Kuwait. Expressing disappointment with the government’s total support for women’s rights, Daifullah Al Buramiyah, a parliament member, announced plans to launch a campaign under the banner, “Under Islamic Sharia women have no political rights”.

Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia may allow women to vote in future elections, the foreign minister of the kingdom said yesterday, but he warned the West to stop pushing for reforms.