ABU DHABI — Kuwait plans to expand its security coverage to include
women travelers who until now avoided body searches at the borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Authorities have launched plans to hire women at the sheikdom's three
major border posts. The women officers would be authorized to remove the
veils of Muslim women and search them for weapons, cash or anything meant to
help Al Qaida insurgents.
Al Qaida was said to have employed Muslim women for the transport of
cash and instructions. Officials said Al Qaida exploited Muslim sensitivites
against male officers removing the veils of Muslim women.
The female officers would be stationed at the two border posts along
the Saudi Arabian border — Nuweisib and Salmi, Middle East Newsline reported. The female officers would
also work at the Abdali post along the Iraqi border.
The Interior Ministry intends to hire 60 foreign women for the security
mission. Officials said the women would be taught to respect Muslim
tradition but ensure that all females undergo stringent checks.
"The measure is intended to abort any attempt by people to abuse the
security of the country," Interior Assistant Undersecretary Maj. Gen. Thabet
Al Muhanna said.
Gulf Cooperation Council security agencies have long struggled with the
issue of checking Muslim women from the region. For years, the Gulf states have not allowed women to travel alone because they could not be photographed
without a veil.
Under the plan, women would replace many of the male officers at Kuwait
border facilities. At Kuwait International Airport, officials said, 350
female officers would be hired and assigned the task of checking identities
of Muslim women.
But Kuwait and other GCC countries plan to increase the employment of
women. Officials said the identification of women would allow authorities to
remove the ban of veiled women driving in Kuwait. The ban was imposed in
January amid clashes between Al Qaida insurgents and Kuwaiti security
forces.
