MoI denies security forces ignored intelligence reports

DNA testing of citizens, expats pondered

KUWAIT CITY, June 29: The Ministry of Interior has denied rumors spread through a section of the local media and social networking sites that the security authorities ignored an intelligence report received a few days ago on the alleged plan to attack wor- ship places.

In a press statement, the ministry stressed it is impossible to ignore any information which affects national security and the citizens, affirming the security operatives always play expected roles to the best of their abilities in order to protect the country from danger or threat.

It has presented proof that precautionary measures had been taken, along with comprehensive plans and procedures, in coordination with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Advisory Committee on Ja’afari Endowment, heads of Christian churches and leaders of Bohra sect.

The ministry revealed Undersecretary Lieutenant General Sulaiman Al-Fahad met various religious sects, during which he emphasized the safety and security of worship places is the responsibility of everybody, so religion should not be a source of division and instability. The undersecretary and other senior officials had a meeting with Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Undersecretary Dr Adel Al-Falah and his assistants on June 1. On the same day, Al-Fahad and his team met the Advisory Committee on Ja’afari Endowment concerning precautionary measures to protect husseiniyas and ensure the safety of worshippers. The Undersecretary and his team also met Christian leaders on June 2 for the same purpose, while the meeting with leaders of Bohra sect was held on June 4.

Al-Fahad issued directives through letter Number 794 dated June 6 to the assistant undersecretaries for special security, public security and operations on the need to follow up and deal with any call as a matter of urgency. He instructed them to coordinate for precautionary measures on anything related to national security to ensure the places of worship are safe.

Worship

He also sent letter Number 795 dated June 7 to Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs undersecretary, highlighting the necessary precautionary measures in worship places. These measures include installation of surveillance cameras in all places of worship, provision of expert civil security and making sure that female security experts handle women’s sections. It also included provision of security gates and detectors of dangerous appliances at the entrance, and prohibiting the parking of vehicles for a long time.

He also forwarded letter Number 796 dated June 10 to Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security Major General Abdul-Fatah Al-Ali who held a coordination meeting with officials of the husseiniyas and Ja’afari mosques on June 15 with the intention of taking necessary steps to tighten the security. Al-Ali wrote letter Number 2,724 dated June 17 to brief the undersecretary about the meeting and procedures which have been taken so far.

Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary for Special Forces Major General Mahmoud Al-Dousari specified in letter Number 1,210 dated June 3 the need for security measures to protect places of worship in order to contain series of incidents in the region. Based on this, the officials of husseiniyas were contacted for coordination to take some procedures; which include installing surveillance cameras in the husseiniyas, providing civil protection with the help of security experts, making sure that female security experts handle the women section of husseiniyas and preventing long-term parking of vehicles in the parking lots of husseiniyas.

Meanwhile, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Hamad AlSabah has affirmed the keenness of the ministry’s security sectors to approve the law on compulsory DNA testing of all citizens and expatriates in Kuwait in order to enable the ministry in identifying the culprits who commit crimes, reports Al-Rai daily quoting reliable sources.

He said the security sectors also want to modify the law on detention, as the detention period allowed by the law currently is not sufficient to complete investigations of many cases.

In this context, governmental sources revealed that any draft law on DNA testing will consider Sharia rules particularly on lineage and privacy, adding that the Cabinet’s Legal Committee will raise this matter when discussing the draft law.