Marathons in the crosshairs of the ‘enemies of freedom’
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 30: In continuation of the series of imposing guardianship under the pretext of “guarding morals” and preserving societal values, the Parliamentary Negative Phenomena Committee continues to dig at the freedoms and restricting activities and events, targeting this time the marathons, which are considered a sporting, health and charitable activity, reports Al-Qabas daily.
It is not surprising that the pressure exerted by the committee members resulted in restrictions on marathon activities and even threatened to stop its organization through statements and contacting officials, parliamentary queries, and others, and this coincided with the movement of other extremist currents to prevent mixing in marathons and object to the presence of accompanying bands.
This attack on marathons came after these extremists targeted yoga, padel competitions, artistic and cultural concerts, and others.
Observers and activists described the restriction of freedoms in Kuwait as a kind of “going backwards” situation and a consecration of stalemate, at a time when other Gulf states are making great strides on the path of openness and entertainment, even organizing international sporting events, while Kuwait appears to be satisfied with the darkness imposed by the ‘negative phenomena’.
Activists criticized what is happening from some deputies who appointed themselves as guardians of virtue and guardians of morality, instead of paying attention to real problems and core issues.
The activists pointed out that the marathons are very popular around the world and thousands of young and old -- people of both sexes and of different ages participate in such events, so the question is what is wrong in organizing them?
While some of the marathon organizers revealed that they were told to ban the bands accompanying these events, and this is a strange demand, music encourages walking and running, and it does not contain any deviation from public values and morals.
After the Negative Phenomena Committee sent an implicit warning through a parliamentary question submitted by one of its members to the Minister of Interior, in which he expressed his refusal to increase the phenomenon of a number of bodies and institutions organizing sporting events, such as marathons, that include things that do not take into account the customs and values of the Kuwaiti society, and encourage mixing of both sexes that is forbidden.
Representative Alia Al-Khaled called on the Ministry of Interior not to succumb to extremist currents to which Al-Khaled said, “If the news is true, I am surprised and denounce the Ministry of Interior’s request to cancel the National Bank of Kuwait marathon under the mixing of sexes is forbidden and the presence of music too.”
She added, “Sports events and gatherings have health and societal goals and work to consolidate relations between members of society, in addition to recreational goals that reduce the psychological pressures experienced by citizens and residents.”
She went on to say, “The practice of guardianship under the pretext of religion is a bad exploitation, and there is no compelling argument for it. Ethics is an approach that all Kuwaitis are raised on, and this is their approach.
She stressed, “The Ministry of Interior must implement the law in the affirmative and not exercise authoritarianism for fear of interrogation or threat. If today we want reform and development, then this approach does not serve the hoped-for vision announced by His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince in their speeches.”