No public concert in Kuwait during Eid holidays

Manama: Kuwaits information ministry said that it had not received any application from anyone to hold a public concert on Eid days, a fact that confirms claims that the country’s conservative approach in public life remains strong.

No promoter or any relevant agency or company has approached us to organise a concert or a public musical gathering on the occasion of Eid Al Adha. There are some restaurants that applied for licences for solo songs or instrument playing on their premises, but nothing else, a spokesman for the information ministry said. We will monitor the entertainment mentioned in the applications. We are very strict about the application of the law and we have dispatched inspectors to ensure full compliance with the regulations governing entertainment in the country, he said.

Kuwaiti liberals have often complained about what they saw as an overwhelming dominance of conservative ideas on their society even though the parliament this year witnessed a distinctive change in its composition with more liberals and four women getting elected.

The education minister is currently under intense pressure from conservative MPs and parents to cancel music classes from schools and to replace them with real educational lessons.

Conservative MPs tried to eject two female lawmakers from the parliament for not wearing the veil, but their move was last month defeated by the constitutional court.