Many experts say that despite protests, Kuwait remains one of the most stable countries in the region. [Stephanie McGehee/Reuters]
When a Salafist group in Kuwait displayed an Islamic State of Iraq flag during a demonstration supporting the Syrian people on June 24th, the move generated wide controversy.
Some analysts viewed the incident as evidence that several secret terrorist cells exist and surface whenever they deem appropriate. Others played down its significance, asserting that Kuwait is one of the most stable nations in the Middle East.
Sheikh Shafi al-Ajami, secretary of the association of Sharia scholars in the Gulf Cooperation Council and one of the organisers of the demonstration in al-Irada Square, stated, "If an al-Qaeda flag was displayed, it does not represent us. We do not support it, nor have knowledge of it."
Dr. Shafiq al-Ghabra, professor of political science at Kuwait University, said that displaying flags during demonstrations to express one's view is a form of personal freedom whereby demonstrators are intending to send a message to officials.
He told Al-Shorfa, "The decision by Kuwaiti youth to display the al-Qaeda flag, or any other organisation or party, is not a crime and does not mean we are on the brink of a revolution as is happening in a number of other Arab countries, nor that a terrorist act is being planned. "
Al-Ghabra said Kuwait is one of the most stable countries in the region, and any type of youth demonstration can only be classified as a political act whereby participants are seeking reform and expansion of democracy.
"There is no justification for violent movements similar to those occurring in some Arab countries because the Kuwaiti people are entirely satisfied with their leadership and object only to resolutions that conflict with democracy or liberty that all in Kuwait are accustomed to."
Major General Saber Suwaidan, a former commander of the Air Force and strategist, agreed, saying Kuwait "is a democratic country where the freedom of expression is exercised in all forms and by all means, which could not lead anyone to engage in prohibited activity".
He rejected what he said the demonstrators resorted to while expressing their support for the Syrian people in their revolution, "because that does not depict support and could potentially show them as aiming to undermine security".
"What one youth resorted to cannot be generalised as representative of all the Kuwaiti people, nor does it necessarily shape the political future of the Kuwaiti youth," Suwaidan said. "The bottom line is that Kuwait is currently stable and will continue to be so in the future. What happened is merely an individual expression of opinion. "
Dr. Shamlan al-Issa, professor of political science at Kuwait University, said the problem internationally, and in Kuwait in particular, is that youth movements cannot be controlled.
"What happened during the demonstration was expected, especially since the organisers were young members of the Muslim Brotherhood, backed by a group of young Salafists and young members of some tribes," he said.
He said, "By displaying the al-Qaeda flag, or the Taliban flag, or that of any similar organisation, a demonstrator is proclaiming or expressing the views of that group."
According to Al-Issa, although security in Kuwait is considered the most stable in the region, "what transpired during that demonstration with the display of those flags could only be classified as evidence of the presence of a number of secret cells, which surface whenever they deem appropriate."
He said the next few days "will reveal whether those cells will be activated and ought to be of concern, or remain dormant and only reveal their existence when circumstances call for it."
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READER COMMENTS
ابن العراق
2011-10-1
The curse of Iraq will haunt all those who participated in shedding the pure Iraqi blood through the car bombs of the blind terrorism, which entered Iraq during the time of the buried Saddam and under the supervision of the monkey, as our brothers in Kuwait call him, Azzah Iceman, with all due respect to the ice sellers. They launched a horrible extermination campaign for no purpose but to kill those who mention the honorable original profession of the monkey, because it left that profession and resorted to terrorism with its scums under the name of resistance. What kind of resistance is the one that kills its compatriots? O honorable people in Kuwait, do not listen to those killers, who respect no religion or sect, as they claim. Fight them before they rape your women, slaughter your children, and loot your riches. Kill them before they create havoc on earth. It is not wrong to ask about your brothers in Iraq, especially in Anbar. Watch out, dear Kuwaitis. Thanks.
نجم المراعي
2011-9-7
This is totally unacceptable. What does the terrorist al-Qaeda organization have to do with any demonstrations in any of the Arab countries? But unfortunately, Kuwait has many extremists who loved the criminal Bin Laden and follow the Fatwas he issued. These demonstrations that raised al-Qaeda flags were really supposed to be surrounded and restricted because this is different from the remaining protests. This demonstration was an announcement for al-Qaeda and an encouragement to join it, which is a disaster because al-Qaeda isn’t a political party or political group; they are criminals and everyone admits that, including the members of this infidel organization who are breakers of religion and outlaws. How could it be allowed for the flags of this organization to be raised? All Kuwaitis have to know what the al-Qaeda organization is. You find extremists there because they haven’t tried the destruction, murders, explosions and attacks against civilians that took place in Iraq and Afghanistan and other countries because of the al-Qaeda organization. If al-Qaeda committed bombings in Kuwait we would have seen the Kuwaitis hating the al-Qaeda organization now and we wouldn’t have seen them raising the flags of al-Qaeda in demonstrations. All those who raised al-Qaeda flags are complicit with it in its criminality and are hateful cowardly extremists who have no regard for all the blood that was shed by their Arab and Muslim brothers from their neighboring countries because they forgot that this blood was shed and these lives were taken because of the al-Qaeda organization; not for any other reason. When they raise the flag of al-Qaeda, they cheapen this innocent blood.
سمير
2011-8-11
A Salafi group has gone on a demonstration in Kuwait against the violent acts in Syria. This group belongs to the group of the "Islamic State of Iraq" and seeks to sow dissension in order to trigger a revolution in Kuwait and forget the revolution in Syria. I personally dislike this work and I would like to say that these cowardly terrorist groups want to raise sedition once again and set all the Arab and Muslim countries on fire. In fact, raising this flag proves that these terrorist groups are inside the country. Thus, Kuwait and the Kuwaiti government must follow up on this case and not let it go unnoticed. In fact, they must investigate the truth and arrest those terrorists, followers of al-Qaeda, so that they will be a lesson for other people who want to undermine Kuwait in such a filthy way.
حذيفة البطيخ
2011-8-11
The Arab region has been infected with a disease that has rapidly spread recently. It is suffering from fanaticism and extremism. In fact, after fighting terrorism that has tried to spread violence in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Yemen has witnessed many activities of these terrorist groups. This is proof that these groups have behaved according to the situation and circumstances. Thus, terrorism cannot be confined to one land or in a particular country, because it is spread everywhere. In fact, terrorism represents a belief and not its members. That’s why I think that the eradication of terrorism and violence can only be achieved through spreading a different belief. In fact, belief cannot be fought with weapons. However, it can be fought with continuous awareness and positive belief. This is in order to make people aware of the reality of these terrorist groups, who have tried to spread their ideas in the community. In fact, Yemen has been a fertile land for the spread of these subversive groups, who have exploited the weakness of the country and the ignorance of this community in order to start their movements in this poor country. And they have worked on sowing sectarianism, takfiri ideology and violence.
عبير ساهر
2011-8-11
During a march supporting the Syrian people in the State of Kuwait last month, some people raised the flag of the terrorist group al-Qaeda. I do not think that such an act is spontaneous. On the contrary, raising the flag of the most dangerous terrorist organization in Kuwait was deliberate. In Kuwait, as in many other countries, there are many Salafis and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as some people who may support the ideologies of some armed groups and terrorist organizations. Raising the flag of the al-Qaeda terrorist organization in the land of Kuwait is evidence of the presence of some cells of this terrorist organization there. This is not reassuring. I am against this act and I think that it must not go unnoticed. The Kuwaiti security forces should investigate this act and know who is behind it, because it is a dangerous act, aimed to be a clear message proving the existence of sleeper cells operating for the terrorist al-Qaeda in the State of Kuwait.
تيم رحو
2011-8-9
We hope that the wise Kuwaiti government listens to the demands of the heroic Kuwaiti people and will throw the fake Syrian ambassador out before Tuesday, which is the deadline set by the Kuwaiti people for the Syrian ambassador to leave the Kuwaiti lands or to denounce the Baathist regime. The heroic Kuwaiti people will assemble at the Syrian embassy in Mashraf to kick out the Syrian ambassador. Thanks are due to the state of Kuwait, with its government, parliament and people. We call on all countries of the world, and especially the Arab countries, to follow the lead of Kuwait and assemble at the Syrian embassies in the world to demand that the Syrian ambassadors in the world be kicked out, to isolate the Baathist regime.
الباشا
2011-8-9
This issue does not represent a threat to the security and stability of Kuwait, because it is one of the most politically stable areas of the Arab Gulf, and because Kuwait is a state that believes in democratic ideas, like what happened in the demonstrations that swept through some Arab countries. This is also characterized as a sort of political movement that aims at reform and more freedom and democracy, because the Kuwaiti people are satisfied with their fair government. In my opinion, raising the flag does not prove the presence of imminent danger, because the ruling authority in Kuwait is the state that takes the initiative in all situations.
shahad
2011-8-9
One of the terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah is that a young man, or one whose father is alive, if he goes to Muhammad, peace be upon him, without permission from his father or guardian, will be returned to his father or guardian. But if anyone goes to the Quraish, he will not be returned. The Prophet, peace be upon him, agreed to this condition. What do you think, you geniuses of the era, what do you think about this term? Dealing with the enemy requires political thinking and not the way people in the public think. But the problem is that we have all become wise and we all issue fatwas about things we don’t even understand. Rulers have information that no others have, and they make decisions based on this information. There is a difference between knowing and having jurisprudence.
ابو فارس
2011-8-9
Raising the flag of al-Qaeda during a demonstration in Kuwait is an act that intends to ignite the situation and create divisions and disputes. This act annoyed many citizens and it was rejected by the majority, because it contributes to creating conflicts among Kuwaitis. The country would face problems in such cases that may cause unrest and conflicts among Kuwaitis. The al-Qaeda organization is made up of terrorist groups who are working on distorting the image of Islam. They are working according to ideologies and principles that are different from the values and beliefs of the Islamic religion. Moreover, it ignites the situation and incites bloodshed in order to create a divide among people of the same nation. They take advantage of sectarian and religious diversity in order to wreak havoc wherever they go.
باسم
2011-8-1
They plot, but God also plotteth; and God is the best of plotters.
قتيبه الحسناوي
2011-8-1
Anyone who kills and terrorizes the security of people deserves our curses on him personally and on the criminal activities that he commits to harm people and destroy countries. The criminal called Ayman al-Zawahiri is a damned terrorist. I curse and despise him and his crimes that have made a lot of people suffer. Damn you, Zawahiri, you have filled the earth with your crimes and spiteful, cowardly acts. Criminals and mass murderers like Zawahiri are corrupt and thugs who have filled the earth with destruction, and we should curse them and curse anybody who terrorizes people. Damn you, Zawahiri, murderer of the innocent, you have committed crimes and violated sanctities, you filthy terrorist. May God punish you and curse you, Ayman al-Zawahiri. O God, devastate, humiliate and destroy him, like his friend who was killed, and the whole world was happy to be rid of his evil forever. O God, destroy the criminals, murderers and killers like Zawahiri, whose hands are filled with our blood. Damn you, Zawahiri, and damn every act you commit. May God ruin and wipe you off the face of the earth for the criminal acts you commit against us, our countries and all humanity. Damn you, and we all curse you, you lecherous, libertine criminal. The likes of you only deserve our curses.
dunia
2011-7-26
May God curse this terrorist organization of al-Qaeda that has caused many problems to the Muslims, especially in Iraq. In fact, people have been the victim of the terrorist and violent operations that have been carried out by these cowardly groups that don’t want the wellbeing of Iraq and Iraqis. They have been the first and main reason behind the painful and brutal events taking place in Iraq.
منصور العامري
2011-7-21
Those who raised the flag of al-Qaeda in Kuwait are just some thugs who want to show people through the media that al-Qaeda exists strongly in Kuwait, and this is not true, because the people of Kuwait are moderate and will not accept the existence of al-Qaeda.
kweetea
2011-7-21
Thanks to God, Kuwait is still safe, despite all the difficult circumstances that have hit the Arab countries recently, in terms of acts of violence, cruelty and competing for positions in some countries and fighting between governments and peoples in other countries. Thankfully, the State of Kuwait is a stable country, thanks to the ruling hero, who has been working on doing good for his country. He has even deprived himself to let his people enjoy welfare, safety and peace. He is still leading the people to safety, unlike other countries whose rulers work for their own personal interests. The State of Kuwait is one of the nicest and sweetest Gulf States of all, because of the important places and wonderful tourist areas. Kuwait has been patient with all the difficulties that have occurred since what Saddam did, and it has strengthened its will and ability to get to this place. I love Kuwait and its people, because it has now become one of the finest countries in terms of prosperity and development. Kuwait has built itself up on its own. Whatever the circumstances that passed and no matter how the Arab states have experienced difficult circumstances, Kuwait still maintains its level because problems bring nothing but bad luck, and it does not want to be involved in the problems of others. So we see it as an advanced country in terms of safety, security, the economic situation, living and all aspects. The recent events that have occurred in most Arab countries do not affect it, because it has methods of dealing with citizens and life, and it can control its reality.
محمدمحمود الجنيد
2011-7-14
Peace be upon you and may he bless you.
روان
2011-7-14
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