Anti-Religious Persecution Mounting in Kuwait

[Bro.David Drake DeLaurento]

Kuwait alarmed at mounting anti-religious sentiments – Call to boost principles of tolerance

GENEVA:  The State of Kuwait expressed, in an address at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), deep concern at continuing waves against religion, namely heavenly religions and their sanctities. Malek Al-Wazzan, Counselor of the Permanent Kuwaiti delegation at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, stressed the mounting phenomena of discrimination and fanaticism against individual Muslims in a manner that affects their personal freedoms and right to practice their beliefs.

Al-Wazzan urged Higher Commissioner, Navi Pillay, to consider action to counter the spread of acts of Islamphobia, rhetoric intended to tarnish the image of religions, incitement of hatred, discrimination and violence against Muslims.

Kuwait stressed the necessity to boost principles of tolerance, equality and respect for racial, religious and cultural diversity through training and education.

The Counselor called for mechanisms to highlight values such as those that combat all forms of discrimination.

Kuwait has signed relevant treaties in defense of human rights and protects these rights in special laws. The Gulf state is executing educational programs for boosting human rights, and legislation that prohibits religious or racial discrimination.

Kuwait has recently drafted the national unity law, which bans segregation among people in terms of rights and freedoms, along with such considerations as skin color, sex, religion, opinion, origin, social, sectarian or tribal affiliations.

Al-Wazzan renewed support for Durban’s declaration and work plan in respect of these basic rights.

In another development, Kuwait is to host the 16th Arab Judicial Inspection Bodies Conference, to be held under the supervision of the Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research of the League of Arab States in cooperation with the Kuwaiti judicial inspection department.

The Ministry of Justice said yesterday that the conference will discuss five main topics, including the role of judicial inspection in addressing gaps in judicial systems, methods of choosing judicial inspectors and means of upgrading their scientific qualifications.

The three-day conference, starting on 8 April, will examine a number of matters like enhancing the Arab judicial system, studying its problems, and discussing successful expertise in Arab judicial inspection bodies.

It will also look at the rehabilitation of judges, ways to speed up court rulings, and discuss the latest technology in the field. The conference is hosted annually by a member of the Arab League. – KUNA