Proofread by Dr. Glenn Hutchinson.
Kuwait was one of the very first countries in the Middle East, and the Arabian Gulf specifically, that adopted a constitution as its ruling/political system. Ever since 1962, people were progressing with the new way of democracy, making them learn more and more how to cope with the constitutional law.
To begin with, the lawmakers and politicians put together the constitution, which consists of 183 articles divided into five chapters. They stated clearly that it would need modifications to allow it to adopt further laws and freedom. But with every new change comes more difficulties, and this is exactly what happened.
Some members of the ruling family, along side with a large number of well known business-class families hated the fact that now they're being watched closely by the people, and by those who represent people in the parliament.
Nowadays, after holding its place unchanged since its establishment, more and more people who are in power are trying their best to abandon this constitution. They have jailed many of the anti government writers and politicians, all under the name of law and against the Freedom of speech that is backed up by the constitution.
To begin with, the lawmakers and politicians put together the constitution, which consists of 183 articles divided into five chapters. They stated clearly that it would need modifications to allow it to adopt further laws and freedom. But with every new change comes more difficulties, and this is exactly what happened.
Some members of the ruling family, along side with a large number of well known business-class families hated the fact that now they're being watched closely by the people, and by those who represent people in the parliament.
Nowadays, after holding its place unchanged since its establishment, more and more people who are in power are trying their best to abandon this constitution. They have jailed many of the anti government writers and politicians, all under the name of law and against the Freedom of speech that is backed up by the constitution.
On Wednesday, December the 8th, the unexpected happened. Police and other special forces agents attacked one of the biggest anti-government speeches around the country, which was held at Jemaan Al-Harbash's house.
The Attack and the violence used were never seen before, especially since the persons who were attacked were innocent people, parliament members and a very famous academician, Dr. Obaid Al-Wasmi. Dr. Obaid is a law teacher in Kuwait's university, a very well respected constitutional expert and a member of a respected family. He was dragged and kicked from inside the house of the MP where the campaign was held for no clear reasons except his anti-government speech and how he mentioned that the prime minister of Kuwait is trying hard to abandon and violate the constitution, and therefore drown the country.
This act has created chaos amongst the parliament members and the people in general. The constitution of Kuwait states clearly in its articles 6, 7, 29, 31, 34 and 44 that citizens have the right to attend or organize public speeches and speak out their minds freely and openly without the need of any pre-approval from anyone.
After this huge controversy and shock, the government is trying harder and harder to act as if nothing happened by controlling its media and the local agencies to mention nothing about this unlawful act and show no signs of it. This was followed by closing the only news agency, "Aljazeera" that aired footage and some analysis on what exactly happened.
A big movement was established and is continued to grow daily under the name of "Not the Constitution". This movement condemns this dictatorship style of acts and are working hard to force the government to quit. The question is left to you, the viewer, whether this act will ever be justified or not, especially when our ranking in the freedom of speech is plummeting downwards every month.
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Video of the attack on Dr. Obaid Al-Wasmi
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Kuwait's Constitution (Click Here)
Kuwait's Constitution (Click Here)
1 الـتـعـلـيـقـات:
To properly view the situation in Kuwait one must stand further back and take a proper look. What one sees will be a typical third world country. Albeit with more money but that's it. A typical third world country in the way that the rulers oppress the people as well as control the media and the flow of information. A typical third world country in that the rulers are so backwards that they do not realize that in the 21st century the flow of information can not be controlled. A typical third world country in that the rulers never accepted the rule of law or the rights of the people to share any responsibility of their own governance. This is true from the day the constitution was born on Nov. 11, 1962 and even before the days of the constitution. It is noteworthy to mention that Kuwait is not a monarchy nor a despot state but some wish it was and here within lies the root of the problem.
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