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Kuwaiti Shiite cleric's interrogation sparks protest
The consequences of a condolence meeting held in Kuwait last month to eulogise slain Hezbollah commander Emad Mughnieh witnessed escalation yesterday as the Public Prosecution interrogated a Shiite cleric and former MP who are accused of taking part in the ceremony.
- By Laila Ali, Correspondent
- Published: 22:19 March 10, 2008
Kuwait: The consequences of a condolence meeting held in Kuwait last month to eulogise slain Hezbollah commander Emad Mughnieh witnessed escalation on Monday as the Public Prosecution interrogated a Shiite cleric and former MP who are accused of taking part in the ceremony.
Shiite cleric Hussain Al Matouq, who was arrested late Sunday, was interrogated in view of his involvement with the event and a so-called Kuwaiti Hezbollah. Interrogated alongside him was former MP Abdul Mohsen Jamal, who had surrendered early on Sunday to the prosecution and was kept in custody for further interrogation.
The Public Prosecution is pursuing Shiite citizens who are linked to the ceremony in which attendees praised Mughnieh; a figure accused of hijacking a Kuwaiti aircraft in 1988 and killing two of its passengers. The ceremony raised criticism and condemnation from nationals and threats of sectarian tension.
Following the news of Al Matouq's arrest, around 500 Shiite nationals gathered to demanding his release outside Kuwaiti police headquarters. The crowd soon dispersed following intervention by police.
Meanwhile, Abdul Mohsen denied on Sunday charges levelled against him. He was accused of participating in the eulogy of Mughnieh, having links with Kuwaiti Hezbollah, spreading ideologies allegedly aimed at toppling the principal system of the country and spreading false information about the internal situation in the country.
'Arbitrary measures'
The Public Prosecution is currently holding a number of Shiite citizens for further interrogation following the ceremony including former MP Nasser Sarkhoh and Municipality Council member Fadhel Safar. Meanwhile, Shiite MP Adnan Abdul Samad, who publicly glorified Mughnieh in the ceremony has threatened to question Minister of Interior Shaikh Jaber Al Khalid "if the Cabinet's arbitrary measures against Shiite politicians carry on."
- Laila Ali is a journalist based in Kuwait
MP's plea: Do not deport Bahrainis
A Bahraini Member of Parliament on Monday urged the Emir of Kuwait not to deport Bahrainis who took part in the condolence meeting for slain Hezbollah commander Emad Mughnieh.
"We received news that several Bahrainis working or studying in Kuwait have been informed that they are no longer welcome after their participation in the condolence meeting. I would like to stress that they were not aware their presence at the meeting would harm the feelings of our brethren in Kuwait and I urge His Highness the Emir, Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, to intervene and lift this ban so that they can continue to serve Kuwait, their second home," Jalal Fairuz said.
- Habib Toumi, Bahrain Bureau Chief
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