Islamist members of parliament have been examining the increasing role
of women in the police. On March 23, the second batch of women cadets, who
held an armed exercise, graduated from the Saad Al Abdullah Academy for
Security Science. Kuwaiti newspapers published photographs of the women
wearing tight black trousers and shirts and wielding firearms.
"We want the minister to put an end to this ridiculous situation that he
is watching daily," Al Hayef said. "We will not allow this to go on, and he
must respect the pledges he made before parliament more than a year ago,
particularly regarding Islamic dress for policewomen."
Al Hayef has been regarded as a Salafist, or holding a view of Islam
similar to that of the regime in Saudi Arabia. Several Gulf Cooperation
Council states employ women in their police and security forces, with most
of them limited to administrative jobs and ordered to wear Islamic robes and
headdress.
Officials acknowledged opposition from male officers in the police to
their female counterparts. They said many men refuse to salute women
superior officers.
In 2008, Kuwait allowed women police cadets to join what the Interior
Ministry termed combat forces. Officials said the use of women was to
counter the taboo on male officers searching women suspects.
"This is a qualitative move in supporting and rehabilitating the human
resources of the Interior Ministry so that it could meet all security
needs," Yusef Al Madhahka, director-general of the Saad Al Abdullah
academy, said.
The opposition in parliament has also demanded answers to proposed
weapons deals by Kuwait. Some parliamentarians have demanded the appearance
of Defense Minister Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah on his intention to procure
the Rafale fighter-jet from France.
