Manama: Kuwait’s parliamentary sessions have been suspended until the end of the month after an unprecedented fight broke out between fellow MPs.
“I am so sorry about what happened. This is unprecedented in the parliament since its inception and such a despicable behaviour does not honour us in any way and does not reflect the status of the parliament,” Parliament Speaker Jasem Al Khorafi said as he announced the decision not to convene the parliament until May 31.
Earlier, MP Rawdhan Al Rawdhan called for the suspension of the parliament session for one month.
“We need time for the fight to settle down,” Rawdhan Al Rawdhan said. “What happened today is despicable and does not honour Kuwait,” the MP said, quoted by Al Aan news portal.
The fight broke out after a heated exchange of accusations between lawmakers over remarks made about the Kuwaitis detained at Guantanamo Bay.
The session was debating the status of the detainees when MP Husain Al Gallaf said that they were “terrorists.”
His description sparked protests by MPs Mohammad Hayef, Falah Al Sawwagh, Waleed Al Tabtabai and Jamaan Al Harbash who said that his microphone should be turned off to stop him from continuing his statement, Al Aan reported.
The ensuing vociferous argument caused an uproar and Abdullah Al Roumi, the deputy speaker, opted to lift the session temporarily and calm the situation.
However, the lawmakers who objected to Al Gallaf’s description of the detainees, used the occasion to surround him and argue with him.
In the ensuing scuffle, Al Gallaf was floored by one of the MPs, reportedly for making threats with a stick, and MP Adnan Al Mutawa received a punch under his eye and needed treatment. MP Salem Al Namlan was reportedly also hurt.
Several people and the parliament guards stepped in to break the melee.
