KUWAIT: The Administrative Court, in its first instance, refused the case filed by Shuruq Al-Failakawi to be appointed general prosecutor. This is the first case of its kind in Kuwait and Al-Failakawi decided to follow her case through to the end. "Even if I lose the case, and I don't occupy the position of general prosecutor, I'm sure that one day a Kuwaiti woman will become a prosecutor, or even a judge," Al-Failakawi told the Kuwait Times.

She graduated from Kuwait University's Faculty of Law in 2008, and works as a investigator with the General Investigations Department. "I don't see any difference between my job and the job of a prosecutor," she said. "I investigate misdemeanors while prosecutors investigate the crimes. We both apply the law.

The Ministry of Justice opened a job vacancy and began accepting applications after the position was closed for about two years. "When I applied they refused to accept my application because I'm a female," she added.

Even the staff at the place were laughing at me. They told me the position is only for males. When I demanded a written rejection, they refused and said the a verbal refusal was enough." When her application for the job was refused she submitted a complaint to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, the Minister of Justice and other officials in charge. "Only the Minister accepted to receive the complaint," she said.

He didn't reply until today. This encouraged me to file my case with the Administrative Court, which refused it at the first instance. I will first file my complaint with the Complaint Checking Committee to determine whether the advertisement published in the newspaper regarding the vacancy was constitutional or not. I will definitely appeal to the Constitutional Court before I lose the legal window period to file an appeal," Al-Failakawi explained.

According to Al-Failakawi there are no laws regulations, codes, internal memos, or constructional rules limiting the position of prosecutor or judge to males only. "The Ministry of Justice has decided to accept only males for these posts, without official written regulations. There is no evidence in Islamic Sharia for such discrimination," she pointed out. The family, friends, and teachers of Al-Failakawi are supporting her and encouraging her to continue her case. - Kuwait TImes