Kuwait, A Fortress against Human Rights
Kuwait can be regarded as the most free country in the Arab world where women not only can vote but are allowed to run for parliament.
Except for the Emir, everything can be criticized in this country. However, human rights are not observed as much as demanded by its people.
When the Sheikh of Bani Khalid clan built the Kut bastion in the desert land as a storehouse for foodstuff and ammunitions, he did not even imagine the land would become a storehouse for US weapons and foods.
Kuwait, formerly Kut, is a country in the northwestern coast of the Persian Gulf with a population of 3.4 million.
It is now more than anything like a fortress standing against the voice of freedom and right seeking emanated from the Islamic Awakening.
Since 50 years ago when the British handed over the country to Al-e Sabah family, its people have been facing cruelty and humiliation from both the government and other countries, a vivid example being Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
But what is most evident in Kuwait today, is the rulers’ opposition to people’s demands. People who are fed up with all the injustices, discriminations and corruptions, and through strikes and demonstrations look for a window of hope for their country’s future.
50 percent of Kuwait’s population are not Kuwaiti citizens and have been given no citizenship rights. Low wages, continuous work, and passport confiscation are but a few examples of rights violations they are facing in Kuwait.
Kuwaiti writer and journalist Ahmed Al-Sarraf regards the human rights violations in the country as an outcome of breaking the law by both the executive and legislative branches of power.
Al’Alam daily in a recent report cited numerous instances of human rights violations in Kuwait including repression of non-citizen demonstrators, restriction of freedom of speech and gathering, and violating women’s rights.
Discrimination, poverty and class gap are endemic in the Arab countries and rooted in corrupt governance. Following the spread of uprisings and the Islamic Wakening Tide in the region, the Emir of Kuwait decided to use petrodollars to ease economic problems, introduce tax cuts and pay money families of armed forces. He was, however, ignorant of the fact that Kuwait’s corrupt economy is incapable of implementing such measures. The crisis was so severe that Salim Abdul Aziz Al-e Sabah who served as the governor of the Central Bank for a quarter of a century resigned in protest to financial corruption.
Women’s Rights
One of the major human rights issues in Arab countries, including Kuwait, is that of women’s rights. While some believe the situation is a result of the society’s patriarchic system, one cannot ignore the impact of views of radical figures about women. A Kuwaiti Mufti has issued a Fatwa saying if a woman votes for someone in elections despite her husband’s view, the husband is allowed the divorce her.
The most disgraceful point is that women who have gender-based disorders are not allowed to seek treatment and, according to a January 2012 report by the Human Rights Watch, many of them face mistreatment, molestation and rape in police stations and are not allowed to file complaints.
Freedom of expression, too, is an obsolete expression in the oil-rich country. When Kuwaiti youths encouraged people to take to the streets to have their demands heard, the interior ministry decided that it was against national security and, hence, water cannon trucks and security forces surrounded the Al-Fasaffa Square, where demonstrations were due to be held.
A glance at the 2012 Human Rights Watch report on freedom of expression in Kuwait shows that the government does not have a positive view of independent journalists and public media outlets. Times and again journalists have been arrested and sentenced to long-term jails and newspaper offices have been shut down. In a latest example, two Kuwaiti bloggers who wrote against Al-e Saud and Al-e Sabah were jailed on charges of acting against national security.
Human Rights Watch report describes Kuwait’s despotic rulers as being paranoids who do not tolerate any opposed view and try to silence protesters through hasty police measures. The solution to the problem is a peaceful and organized link between people and civil society institutions. In other words, people should feel they belong to a society that seeks civil and political rights.
By: Reza Edalatipour
992939
When the Sheikh of Bani Khalid clan built the Kut bastion in the desert land as a storehouse for foodstuff and ammunitions, he did not even imagine the land would become a storehouse for US weapons and foods.
Kuwait, formerly Kut, is a country in the northwestern coast of the Persian Gulf with a population of 3.4 million.
It is now more than anything like a fortress standing against the voice of freedom and right seeking emanated from the Islamic Awakening.
Since 50 years ago when the British handed over the country to Al-e Sabah family, its people have been facing cruelty and humiliation from both the government and other countries, a vivid example being Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
But what is most evident in Kuwait today, is the rulers’ opposition to people’s demands. People who are fed up with all the injustices, discriminations and corruptions, and through strikes and demonstrations look for a window of hope for their country’s future.
50 percent of Kuwait’s population are not Kuwaiti citizens and have been given no citizenship rights. Low wages, continuous work, and passport confiscation are but a few examples of rights violations they are facing in Kuwait.
Kuwaiti writer and journalist Ahmed Al-Sarraf regards the human rights violations in the country as an outcome of breaking the law by both the executive and legislative branches of power.
Al’Alam daily in a recent report cited numerous instances of human rights violations in Kuwait including repression of non-citizen demonstrators, restriction of freedom of speech and gathering, and violating women’s rights.
Discrimination, poverty and class gap are endemic in the Arab countries and rooted in corrupt governance. Following the spread of uprisings and the Islamic Wakening Tide in the region, the Emir of Kuwait decided to use petrodollars to ease economic problems, introduce tax cuts and pay money families of armed forces. He was, however, ignorant of the fact that Kuwait’s corrupt economy is incapable of implementing such measures. The crisis was so severe that Salim Abdul Aziz Al-e Sabah who served as the governor of the Central Bank for a quarter of a century resigned in protest to financial corruption.
Women’s Rights
One of the major human rights issues in Arab countries, including Kuwait, is that of women’s rights. While some believe the situation is a result of the society’s patriarchic system, one cannot ignore the impact of views of radical figures about women. A Kuwaiti Mufti has issued a Fatwa saying if a woman votes for someone in elections despite her husband’s view, the husband is allowed the divorce her.
The most disgraceful point is that women who have gender-based disorders are not allowed to seek treatment and, according to a January 2012 report by the Human Rights Watch, many of them face mistreatment, molestation and rape in police stations and are not allowed to file complaints.
Freedom of expression, too, is an obsolete expression in the oil-rich country. When Kuwaiti youths encouraged people to take to the streets to have their demands heard, the interior ministry decided that it was against national security and, hence, water cannon trucks and security forces surrounded the Al-Fasaffa Square, where demonstrations were due to be held.
A glance at the 2012 Human Rights Watch report on freedom of expression in Kuwait shows that the government does not have a positive view of independent journalists and public media outlets. Times and again journalists have been arrested and sentenced to long-term jails and newspaper offices have been shut down. In a latest example, two Kuwaiti bloggers who wrote against Al-e Saud and Al-e Sabah were jailed on charges of acting against national security.
Human Rights Watch report describes Kuwait’s despotic rulers as being paranoids who do not tolerate any opposed view and try to silence protesters through hasty police measures. The solution to the problem is a peaceful and organized link between people and civil society institutions. In other words, people should feel they belong to a society that seeks civil and political rights.
By: Reza Edalatipour
992939
