Habib Toumi

A Bahraini society, under possible sanctions for taking part in a meeting abroad without informing the country’s legal authorities, has vowed not to abide by the “constraining” clause.

“We have already voiced our opposition to some of the articles and clauses in the political societies’ law that we see as against the spirit of reforms and democracy. We will not abide by the clause governing meeting with other parties or politicians outside Bahrain,” Ebrahim Kamaluddeen, the head of the politburo of the National Democratic Action Society (Waad), said. continue reading…

Burj Khalifa opening ceremony Picture: Christopher Swerin

For the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, there is no room for the slightest doubt: Dubai is an outstanding success story that will not be plagued by problems no matter how ominous they may loom.
“Dubai’s success in introducing a unique developmental model has gained remarkable international recognition. As you know, success implies a certain burden that cannot be avoided,” Shaikh Mohammed wrote in answer to journalists’ questions.”The international focus on Dubai is absolutely normal. During crises, people turn their attention to those that have a successful track record. The current crisis has brought Dubai’s developmental model with all its successes into a tough test. It is truly sad to find international publications that have usually boasted about factual and precise reporting issuing articles based on rumours and baseless speculation…When a city or country decides to integrate itself as an effective international player, it should not expect an easy journey full of roses and good wishes,” Shaikh Mohammad said in reaction to a swathe of criticism from international media.
As usual, his reply was honest and dignified, as befits his character and his status.
Other people were much blunter in their reactions. continue reading…

Majeed Al Alawi

Bahrain’s labour minister has joked that he should be made member of the all-females Supreme Council for Women (SCW) for his persistent championing of women’s rights.

Majeed Al Alawi made the light claim at the end of a week during which he had to face a barrage of criticism, mainly from women MPs for supporting calls to amend the private sector labour law in order to give women more rights, including more time to look after their children. continue reading…

Kuwait’s parliamentary Women’s Committee has rejected a Bill that encouraged women to leave their jobs and stay at home to raise their children for 250 Kuwaiti dinars (Dh3,193) a month.

The decision sparked outrage among conservative lawmakers. MP Mohammad Al Hayef — who submitted the Bill — promptly charged the members of the committee, all women, with acting against the welfare of Kuwaiti women.

Al Hayef said that the committee’s decision to reject his motion to financially support women keen on staying at home was evidence that the committee’s members were not in favour of helping women.

The Bill compels the state to pay 250 dinars a month to women who give up their jobs and stay at home. continue reading…

Kuwait has banned the screening of a controversial Egyptian film, saying that it promoted a culture of debauchery.

The film, Bedoon Rakaba (Out of Control or Uncensored), was produced in 2009 and addresses lifestyles centering on drug uses by young people and lesbianism, a taboo subject in Arab cinema and society.

A member of the censorship board said that some of the scenes were “too hot” and that the lesbianism theme was too bold. The member stressed that the scenario was very weak and failed to address the controversial issues properly. continue reading…

MP Mohammad Al Hayef is doing it again: Pressure on the interior ministry not to allow an unwanted visitor into Kuwait.

This time, the MP is after Mike Fe

ghali, a Lebanese astrologer. And the reason is that he would be abusing desperate and naive people and take their money.

“People like Mike Feghali should not be allowed into the country and the interior ministry and all concerned agencies should assume their responsibilities,” Al Hayef said.

“I have information that this person is engaged in magic and sorcery in order to deceive naïve and desperate people in order to take their money. Any claim that he is an astrologer is not correct and he should not come to Kuwait.” continue reading…

Kuwait's pink taxis

Kuwait is set to introduce within weeks taxis for women only.

The pink taxis will be driven by female drivers and will be exclusively for women customers, the woman behind the project has said.

“The ambitious new project will succeed because many women need to feel secure in their transportation. I hope to spare women the hassle they might face when a male driver takes them to their destinations,” Bedoor Al Mutairi said.

Al Mutairi said the project, called Eve Taxi, follows the example of several Arab and Islamic countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Bangladesh. continue reading…

Bahrain has improved its United Nations e-government readiness rankings, jumping this year to the top of the Arab world and to the third spot in Asia and to the 13th place globally.

No other Arab country or Middle Eastern country has ever reached such high levels

“Our ambition was to move forward and to be among the top five countries in Asia, but thanks to the dedication and devotion of the team in charge of e-government, we have surpassed our own known abilities and jumped past several countries with a rich history of achievement in the field,” Shaikh Ahmad Bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa, cabinet affairs minister, told the media.

“While we highly value the outstanding tribute to Bahrain’s success from the United Nations, we will not fall into self-complacency and we will work harder with all our partners to enhance our rankings at all levels and consolidate our achievements,” he said. continue reading…

A Jordanian tribe has decided to name all the males born this year “Saddam” and all the females “Raghad”, “Hala” or “Rana” after Saddam’s daughters after their town municipal council shelved a plan to name a street after Iraqi former leader Saddam Hussain.
The town cancelled the plan in the wake of a political and diplomatic furore it sparked in Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq.
Jordanian Prime Minister Sameer Al Rifae said his government would not accept the decision taken by the municipal council of Al Mazar, a small town 250km south of Amman.
Nabeel Al Shareef, Jordan’s Minister of State for Information and Communications, told the Ammon news service that the residents of Al Mazar submitted a petition to the municipal council to revoke their decision about naming one of the town streets after Saddam Hussain.
The council eventually accepted the petition and cancelled the decision, he said.

continue reading…

 Kuwaiti Members of Parliament (MPs) said that they would call upon their government to freeze relations with Jordan if the controversial issue over naming a street in a Jordanian town after Iraqi former leader Saddam Hussain is not settled.

The lawmakers, who will issue a communiqué on Sunday, said that they were scandalised by the decision by authorities in the city of Al Karak, south of Amman.

“The MPs are pained by the move to pay tribute to Saddam Hussain despite the atrocities he committed in Kuwait during the occupation,” Kuwaiti daily Al Rai on Saturday quoted an unnamed parliamentarian source as saying. continue reading…