KUWAIT, 3 January 2005 — Kuwait’s information minister resigned yesterday, one day before he was due to be questioned in Parliament mainly over allowing “immoral” concerts in the country.
Muhammad Abul Hassan handed in his resignation to Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported, but did not say whether it had been accepted.
“I handed in my resignation ... not to avoid serving my country or in fear of political questioning, but to protect my country from political discussions, skirmishes and wrangling from which we would all lose,” the agency quoted Abul Hassan as saying.
Abul Hassan was due to be questioned today by some MPs over allegations including neglect of social values after he approved music concerts deemed un-Islamic by critics.
Sheikh Sabah has warned that the questioning, demanded by Sunni MPs, could lead to sectarian rifts in the state if it were mishandled.
Shiites make up one-third of the country’s native population of 950,000 and hold five seats in the 50-member Parliament.
Waleed Al-Tabtabae, an Islamist MP, accused Abul Hassan of “running away from political responsibility” by resigning and said there were no differences between Shiite and Sunni members of Parliament over the case.
“The questioning covers issues agreed upon by both Sunnis and Shiites which is to protect values and morals,” he told Al-Arabiya satellite channel. “We do not object to serious and composed concerts, but we oppose events which encourage corruption and immorality.”
Islamist MPs and religious figures protested last year against a concert by artists participating in a popular televised Arab talent show. They also asked that unrelated men and women be segregated at concerts.
The National Assembly often takes Cabinet members to task. Finance Minister Mahmoud Al-Nuri narrowly survived a no-confidence motion last year.
Kuwait was the first Gulf state to elect its Parliament. Most Kuwaiti ministers are not members of Parliament and are appointed by the emir on the prime minister’s recommendation.
