Kuwait http://news.kuwaittimes.net/moi-takes-action-cop-mistreating-expat-dashti-hot-water-anti-bahrain-comments/
MoI takes action against cop for mistreating expat – Dashti in hot water over anti-Bahrain comments
Kuwait : The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has decided to interrogate a police officer for abuse of power against an expatriate resident. The move by the ministry came as a video was posted on social media showing a policeman mistreating a resident, the ministry said in a statement, blasting such a “misconduct that marks an individual case”. “The Ministry of Interior rejects such an act against citizens and residents,” it said, warning that necessary action would be taken against the police officer once relevant investigations are over.
Separately, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem said yesterday that Kuwait-Bahrain relations are historical and deep-rooted and cannot be affected by personal statements following demands by a number of MPs for action against MP Abdulhameed Dashti for statements deemed offensive to the Gulf state. Ghanem said that any statements issued by individuals or MPs against any country are their personal views and do not represent anyone else or the National Assembly. He insisted that such personal views will never impact the solid relations at all levels that exist between Bahrain and Kuwait.
Ghanem’s statements came after strong comments against Bahrain posted by Dashti on his Twitter account triggered strong reactions from several MPs who demanded that the lawmaker be referred to the public prosecution for legal action. Dahsti, a Shiite lawmaker, has been issuing statements in support of the Shiite protests against the Bahraini monarchy. Over the weekend, he expressed confidence that Bahraini Shiites will be victorious and that “invaders” will go.
MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji yesterday asked the foreign minister why the ministry has taken no action against Dashti for his offensive remarks against Bahrain. Turaiji asked why the ministry failed to take action against the lawmaker although he publicly insulted and abused the people and rulers of Bahrain. Responding to accusations against him, Dashti said yesterday that he agrees with the statements of the Assembly speaker on Bahrain that “what I expressed were my personal views”. But he added that he is a rights activist and those calling for legal action against him are “ignorant”.
In a related development, a number of MPs called for the need of a meeting to discuss implications for Kuwait over the US-led war against the Islamic State group that controls huge swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq. MP Abdulrahman Al-Jeeran called on the Assembly speaker to convene an emergency session of the Assembly to discuss developments in the region and the implications for Kuwait.
But MP Humoud Al-Hamdan pointed out that it is difficult to convene an emergency Assembly session now, especially since several MPs and top officials are out of the country. MP Hamdan Al-Azemi said that he prefers a government-MP meeting in which the government briefs the lawmakers on the latest developments. Kuwait has announced its total support for the war on IS and is providing logistical and humanitarian support to the operation.
Meanwhile, MP Dashti called on Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair to take administrative measures against Kuwait Petroleum Corp and its subsidiary companies that have failed to terminate the services of non-Kuwaitis who have reached the retirement age of 60 years. Dashti expressed outrage at the fact that Kuwaiti employees in oil companies are forced to retire even before reaching the legal age while expatriates are allowed to continue working even at the age of 65.