Kuwait Shiites, Sunnis pray together in show of unity
Security beefed up as Amir attends joint prayers
KUWAIT: Kuwait has moved to ward off sectarian tensions following a deadly bombing at a Shiite mosque and taken measures to try to prevent another attack by the Islamic State group. Shiites, who make up about a third of the oilrich Gulf state’s 1.3 million citizens, have complained in the past of discrimination in the Sunni-ruled emirate. But after the June 26 suicide mosque bombing, which killed 26 people, Sunni and Shiite religious and political figures presented a united front.
HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah visited the Al-Imam Al-Sadeq mosque in Kuwait City only minutes after the attack by IS, a Sunni jihadist group that sees Shiites as heretics. He also ordered that the victims be considered martyrs for the nation, in a response that was wellreceived by Shiites. “They (the jihadists) wanted to stir a conflict between the two sects but found there is only one religion... and a united people,” parliament speaker Marzouk Al-Ghanim said at a reception for relatives of the victims. Shiite leaders agreed.
“The Kuwaiti people gave yet another example of national unity. We became united as we were during the Iraqi invasion” in 1990, the senior cleric at the targeted mosque, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mazeedi, said at the same reception. Shiite MP Yousef Al-Zalzalah said in parliament: “The Kuwaiti people have sent a clear message to terrorists that you will never divide this society.” Kuwait’s largest Sunni mosque held three days of mourning and accepted condolences in a show of solidarity, while senior officials spoke out against Sunni-Shiite divisions.
In yet another sign of unity, thousands of Shiites and Sunnis prayed together at the Grand Mosque yesterday. The Amir, crown prince, ministers and MPs attended the prayers. The Interior Ministry deployed unprecedented security measures around Shiite mosques, where security personnel and volunteers searched worshippers. Kuwaiti political analyst Chafer Al-Ami said that, if anything, the bombing had brought Kuwaitis closer together.
“I believe this huge bombing will greatly contribute to boosting national unity,” he said. “Kuwait’s society is more immune (to sectarian divisions) than other Gulf societies because of democracy and the high standard of freedoms.”
Unlike most of its Gulf neighbors, Kuwait has a strong parliamentary tradition, although the Amir retains ultimate authority and the country has faced calls for reform. During a parliamentary debate this week, some Shiite MPs said the government needed to do more to end discrimination and combat extremism.
“We must win this war against terror and to do so we must end discrimination and instigation,” against Shiites, said MP Khalil Abul. Shiite political analyst Abdulwahed Khalfan said strong measures were needed. “Kuwaiti Shiites are frustrated because the government has not done enough to curb sectarian instigation and practices against them,” Khalfan said. “There are people in Kuwait who fund terrorism and who are fighting with the Islamic State. What is needed is that the government should not be lenient with extremists any more and must take effective security measures,” Khalfan said.
Security tightened Kuwaiti authorities moved quickly after the attack, arresting several people linked to the Saudi who allegedly carried out the bombing for IS. Five have been referred to prosecutors to face trial in a special court. Declaring itself in a state of war against “terrorism,” Kuwait placed police and security agencies on high alert, upgraded its security plan and beefed up measures around oil facilities and other vital installations. In a bid to prevent further attacks, parliament adopted a law Wednesday requiring mandatory DNA testing on all the country’s citizens and foreign residents to help security agencies make quicker Aarrests in criminal cases.
Lawmakers also approved $400 million (360 million euros) in emergency funding for the interior ministry, though some warned the new measures may still not be enough. Despite this, many Kuwaitis remain concerned about more attacks. “What are the guarantees that new bombings will not take place,” independent MP Jamal al-Omar asked in parliament. “We need a crisis management agency... and the government should set up a war council,” Omar said. “We can’t really say that this was the last terror attack in Kuwait,” liberal MP Rakan Al-Nasef warned.