Strict flag rules as Kuwait celebrates National Day

Cairo: Kuwait has announced strict rules for raising its flag as the country is marking its National Day and Liberation Day anniversaries. Violators are warned of stringent penalties.

The Kuwait Municipality said it is not permissible to raise the flag if it is tattered or in an “inappropriate” form.

Nor should the flag be used for commercial marketing or hoisted on private buildings except on special occasions and during the national celebrations.

The municipality warned that violating the rules is punishable by imprisonment and an unspecified fine.

Kuwait annually celebrates the National Day marking independence from Britain on February 25.

The following day is designated as the Liberation Day commemorating the dislodging of Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait in 1991 after a US-led military multinational campaign that ended the August 1990 invasion.

To mark the occasion, the Kuwaiti government has declared that work is suspended in all state and public institutions in the country on February 25 and 26 as official holidays while February 27 will be a day of rest.

Friday and Saturday are the usual weekend in Kuwait. Official work will thus resume on Sunday, March 2.

The current shape of the Kuwaiti flag was adopted more than 63 years ago when the then Emir Abdullah Al Salem issued a decree in September 1961 to raise the flag on masts atop government institutions. It was officially hoisted onNovember 24, 1961.

The colours of the Kuwaiti flag were inspired by a poem composed by the medieval poet Safi Al Din Al Hilli lauding Arab traits.

The Kuwaiti flag is divided into three equal horizontal stripes, the top green, the middle white and the bottom red, with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side.