Manama: Kuwaiti security authorities are to take action against bloggers who posted offensive tweets abusing the late king of Saudi Arabia Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud or celebrating his death.
“Such tweets and remarks are punishable by the law and are totally rejected by our traditions and customs,” senior security sources told local daily Al Rai. “Kuwait does not tolerate abuses and transgression of values and morals.”
The sources stressed that people must abide by the laws and show respect, particularly during the painful times of death.
“King Abdullah is a highly respected leader in Kuwait and no abuse can be tolerated, especially,” the sources said. “We must also be grateful to our brothers the Saudis who have exerted great efforts in supporting Kuwait at all times.”
According to the sources, the bloggers “will be investigated by the state security agency before they are referred to the competent authorities.”
Reports in the capital Kuwait City said that the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs was looking into claims that some mosque imams did not comply with its directives to perform the absentee prayers for King Abdullah on Friday.
The prayers are performed when the body of the deceased is in a distant location, but worshippers pay their respect as if it is in front of them.
According to Kuwaiti daily Al Shahed some worshippers reported that their imams on Friday did not pray for the late Saudi king.
The ministry is now assessing the reasons these imams did not perform the prayers, the daily said.
News of King Abdullah’s death had led to a dramatic outpour of emotions in Kuwait where the late king is highly popular.
Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) reported that a huge number of people turned out at the Saudi embassy on Saturday to mourn the death of King Abdullah.
“Scores of individuals expressed words of sorrow and sadness while signing the condolence book at the embassy,” the news agency said.
The Kuwait Towers, the northern Arabian Gulf country’s major landmarks, were adorned with a special light projection depicting images in honour of the late Saudi king.
“A portrait of the influential ruler lights up the medium-sized tower - which carries one globe - illuminating the waters of the Arabian Gulf, in an outstanding emphasis on the close ties shared by the two brotherly peoples,” Kuna said.
“The colour green, referring to the Saudi flag, lights up the main globe in the tallest of the three towers.”
At the official level, the government had declared a three-day mourning period over his death and the country’s most important festival “Hala February”, featuring concerts by some of the best Arab artists, was cancelled.
“Following the huge loss of the death of King Abdullah, Kuwaiti leadership and people offer their condolences to the new Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, the new Crown Prince Muqrin, the Saudi people and both the Arab and Islamic nations for the demise of King Abdullah,” Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah, the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, told Kuwait News Agency (Kuna).
“In the death of King Abdullah, the nation has lost an outstanding leader who served tremendously his county and people,” he said.
“He was a symbol of sincerity, honesty and commitment to values and principles. All Kuwaitis will remember the bold and brotherly stances of the late King Abdullah during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait,” the minister said, praying to Allah to bless the soul of the late King.
