Female judges and female prosecutors will soon be a thing of the past in Kuwait if a law which bans women from being appointed to these positions is passed by the Kuwaiti government.

Five Kuwaiti lawmakers suggested amendments to the current law which says that all judges and prosecutors must be “a Kuwaiti Muslim,” and change it to “male Kuwaiti Muslim”, thus making it impossible for women to be considered for these positions.

An explanatory memorandum attached with the amendment proposal added that “the aforementioned item in its current state might exclude women from assuming judicial posts; a much debated move from a religious standpoint.”

“In a bid to prevent any misjudgement that calls for nominating female citizens to judicial posts, this draft law clearly seeks to add a condition according to which only a Muslim male citizen qualifies to be appointed as a judge or prosecutor”, the memorandum read quoted by local media.

If the current law is amended, it will be considered as a real step backward for women in a country where they are considered to be amongst the most emancipated women in the Gulf region. Women in Kuwait can travel, drive, and work without their fathers' or husbands' consent and hold some senior government positions.