Abdulrahman al-Rashed

By : Abdulrahman al-Rashed

This week, Shiite Kuwaiti MPs caused a scandal by boycotting parliament after the arrest of Shiites involved in a terrorist cell, and due to a statement of solidarity with Saudi Arabia against Iran after the burning of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Is it acceptable in any democratic country to have those in public positions support sectarian or ethnic causes against their own country?

Kuwait may be small in size and population, but it is developed politically, culturally and democratically. Iran has sought, and failed, many times to interfere with Kuwait’s national unity on sectarian bases.

Kuwaitis, like the other peoples of the region, must see how sectarian and tribal affiliations are easily destroying the region when all the armies of the world have failed to do so.

Abdulrahman al-Rashed

The late famous Hezbollah terrorist Imad Mughniyeh hijacked a Kuwaiti plane in 1988, forced it to land in the Iranian city of Mashhad for four days, then took it to Cyprus. Mughniyeh deliberately chose two Sunni passengers and killed them. He then freed Shiite passengers. After the incident, Shiite Kuwaiti citizens shared mourning tents with Sunnis and publicly denounced Hezbollah and Iran.

Sectarianism

Sadly, today Shiite MPs dare to show solidarity with Iranian terrorism against their country, amid a sectarian climate prevailing in the region. They were preceded by Sunni MPs who showed solidarity with al-Qaeda and al-Nusra Front.

Kuwaitis, like the other peoples of the region, must see how sectarian and tribal affiliations are easily destroying the region when all the armies of the world have failed to do so. Without eradicating sectarianism, each country will lose its national identity and will be threatened by division. It will be easier than imagined.

Abdulrahman al-Rashed is the former General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel. A veteran and internationally acclaimed journalist, he is a former editor-in-chief of the London-based leading Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, where he still regularly writes a political column. He has also served as the editor of Asharq al-Awsat’s sister publication, al-Majalla. Throughout his career, Rashed has interviewed several world leaders, with his articles garnering worldwide recognition, and he has successfully led Al Arabiya to the highly regarded, thriving and influential position it is in today.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in the Column section are their own and do not reflect RiyadhVision’s point-of-view.

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