Monday 27 April 2009

Kuwaitis make education a battleground

In the 1960s and 1970s Kuwait was dubbed the “pearl of the Gulf”, and laid claims to being a leader in the region in technological innovation and progressiveness.

It was a country where women wore the trendiest fashions and openly danced with men at mixed parties. But times have changed as a significant shift has seen the country grow more conservative in terms of religion, especially since the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion and occupation.

In recent years, Islamists have increased their strength in parliament and pushed an agenda of strict conservatism focused primarily on social issues, such as trying to force female lawmakers to wear the hijab and prohibiting mixed dancing in public places.

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