Kuwait beacon of Arab culture: Novelist
Kuwait is a beacon of Arab and Islamic culture, which played a major role in spreading Arab and Islamic culture, Kuwaiti novelist Taleb Al-Refai said on Monday. In a statement made on the sidelines of Aseela’s 39th International Culture forum, Refai added that what makes Kuwait become such important player was its initiative since the 1960s through issuing various publications, magazines, and books.
Refai pointed out that these publications, which continue to this day and are distributed in Arab countries at nominal prices have placed Kuwait’s on “Arab cultural memory for the entire generation,” referring to some publications like Arab magazine, world of knowledge, the world of thought, world culture, and the world theater. He stressed that these issues would not have continued without the climate of freedom and openness enjoyed by the State of Kuwait, pointing to the embrace of many Arab intellectuals of Kuwait as a center of culture and enlightenment in the Arab world. Refai stressed on the support of the Kuwaiti political leadership, led by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to culture in Arab countries as the basis of Arab unity and a key entry point for achieving sustainable development. On Sunday, Refai participated in a symposium entitled ‘Contemporary Arab Thought and the Religious Issue’ at the Forum during which he reviewed the aspects of the Kuwaiti model in openness and tolerance, stressing that Kuwaiti society is tolerant and open to the others.