Kuwaiti women win passport right

Manama: Kuwaiti women will be able to obtain their own passports and travel without the prior approval of their husbands after yesterday's ruling by the Constitutional Court.

Female lawmaker Aseel Al Awadi hailed the decision as an "outstanding victory for constitutional values" and "a vindication for women's rights."

"The decision of the Constitutional Court is a first step in eliminating all laws that are both unconstitutional and a threat to the democratic process in Kuwait," she said in a brief statement.

"We have lived under this unconstitutional law for too long. There are other unconstitutional laws and all three branches [executive, legislative and judicial] have to address them to improve democratic practices," said Aseel who submitted a motion to amend the passport law on July 13, 2009.

The decision came after a Kuwaiti woman filed a suit after her husband who had refused to give her and their three children their passports to prevent them from leaving the country.