Manama: Five Kuwaiti lawmakers have proposed the enactment of a law that bans all forms of business dealings during the Friday prayers.
MPs Humood Al Hamdan, Ahmad Al Azimi, Madhi Al Hajiri, Abdul Rahman Al Jiran and Husain Quian said that the ban on selling and buying should include all shopping malls, cooperatives and restaurants and should start half an hour before the prayers and end once the prayers are over.
Under the proposal, shops and restaurants that do not comply with the proposed ban should be fined KD1,000 and the violating premises closed for one month.
Friday prayers include a sermon and prayers and last between 20 and 40 minutes depending on the preacher.
Muslims are required by their faith to attend the weekly prayers, usually held in large mosques.
The proposal by the lawmakers expectedly sparked a heated debate on social networks between those who supported it as a form to encourage people to adhere to Islamic teachings and those who opposed it on the grounds that it would be impractical.
Life in most Gulf countries almost comes to a standstill during the prayers as Friday is a day off and people tend not to go out until the afternoon.
Saudi Arabia enforces a strict policy of having all shops and restaurants, regardless of their size and location, shut down during all prayers.
Muslims perform prayers five times a day.
The validity of the Kuwaiti parliament elected in July was upheld on Monday after the Constitutional Court rejected 50 petitions against its elections and ruled that it was constitutional. However, the country’s highest court revoked the membership of two MPs and replaced them by two others.
The government opted to resign after some of its ministers were cited in motions filed by lawmakers over alleged irregularities.
The new cabinet is expected to be formed by January 7. Reports in Kuwait said that the ministers holding the key portfolios would not be replaced in the reshuffle.
