By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait — More than 3,000 protestors belonging to the ‘Nahj’ movement gathered in Kuwait’s Irada Square opposite the National Assembly last Monday, demanding that reforms be made to the country’s electoral law. They also called for the formation of a constitutional monarchy and the election of a prime minister from outside the ruling al-Sabah family.
Protesters have criticized the government, saying they have ignored Article 6 of the Constitution, which states that “[t]he System of Government in Kuwait shall be democratic, under which sovereignty resides in the people, the sources of all powers. Sovereignty shall be exercised in the manner specified in this Constitution.”
Despite a ban on sleeping in the square and sitting in, protesters came to Irada Square with sleeping bags, as they were prepared to defy both prohibitions and stage a sit in for multiple days. Many MP’s addressed the protestors over the past two days, encouraging them to not give up on their demands. MP Musallam Al-Barrack said prior to the rally “we will not obey them and will not keep quiet and let them do whatever they want.” In a message to the protestors, Islamist MP Walid Al-Tabtabaie took to the podium and said that the al-Sabah family can “be the emirs but the ministers will be from among us.”
MP Ali Al-Deqbasi criticized the government, saying that Kuwait is “suffering from corruption and delays in all aspects.” Deqbasi also said that the rally was not a ploy for the majority block to protect its seats in Parliament, “but to demand the development of Kuwait and ensure its future.”
Speaking on the subject of the protest, columnist Ahmad Al-Dayeen believes that the current system is not a proper democracy.
“What we want is to reach an integrated democratic regime, because there is no democracy in the world without political parties and exchange of power. We have an incomplete system, and what we want is an integrated democratic system. The sheikhdom mentality does not want democracy and fights popular rights…” he said.
A source that wished to remain anonymous told Al Watan Daily that it believed the protests to be unconstitutional on grounds that those attending the rally did not “constitute a free opinion in democracy.” The source also said that the propositions supported by the dissidents were in violation of Article 4 of the Constitution, which says that “Kuwait is a hereditary Amirate, the succession to which shall be in the descendants of the late Mubarak Al-Sabah.” During the rally, Tabtabaie said that if the government were to act in accordance with Article 6, the people would still be committed to Article 4.
The Nahj Movement, credited for setting up the protest, is comprised of Islamists, independent opposition, and youth activists who want to transform Kuwait into a Constitutional Monarchy.
For further information, please see:
Al Watan Daily — Constitutionality of Rally Statements in Question — 12 September 2012
Arab Times — Nahaj, Majority Bloc Protest Election Law Appeal — 12 September 2012
Kuwait Times — Opposition Protesters vow to Pursue ‘Full’ Democracy — 12 September 2012
Al Jazeera — Kuwaitis Rally for Democratic Reforms — 11 September 2012
