Watan- A significant reaction and widespread controversy have arisen within Kuwait following the incident involving the Kuwaiti citizen, Abdullah Al-Aradah, who was subjected to assault and harassment at Kuwait International Airport, prompting the Ministry of Interior to officially intervene.
The Beginning of the Story: Abdullah Al-Aradah’s Complaint
The story began with what Al-Aradah posted on his account on the platform “X” (formerly Twitter), saying, “To His Excellency the respected Minister of Interior, Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled… Because I am certain that you do not accept the violation of the constitution and state laws and do not accept injustice and assault on people’s dignity, here is what happened to me.”
He added, “As soon as I returned on Wednesday at around 8 pm on Kuwait Airways flight KU104 from London… the passport officer refused to stamp my passport and asked me to go to the passport secretary. There I was informed that I was wanted by State Security.”
Continuing, he said, “I was escorted to the State Security office at the airport, and while on the way to the office accompanied by them, I asked them what the matter was. They replied, ‘Don’t argue, you’re with State Security.’ Upon arriving at the office, my phone was confiscated, and I was asked some questions. Then they asked me to unlock my phone, even though they didn’t have permission from the prosecution, clearly violating the law. I was forced to unlock my phone.”
He further elaborated, “After they looked at my personal photos and the like, they moved on to the WhatsApp application and began asking me about a group of personalities, posing illogical and unacceptable questions.”
The Interior Minister Orders an Investigation
Immediately, the Kuwaiti Minister of Interior, Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, ordered an investigation into the incident at Kuwait International Airport, according to a statement from the ministry. The statement emphasized that the ministry follows all security aspects in all its forms and works to apply the law throughout the country.
The statement read, “Therefore, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, ordered an investigation to ascertain the circumstances of the incident at Kuwait International Airport and to clarify the reasons and implications of this action based on the results of the investigation.”
Attempt to Implicate the Interior Minister
Abdullah Al-Aradah’s complaint generated significant feedback among Kuwaiti activists and politicians, especially given interpretations suggesting an attempt to embroil the Interior Minister in a political crisis.
The lawyer Bassam Al-Asousi stated, “Is there a power center conflict within the Ministry of Interior? And are there entities trying to implicate the brother, the Minister of Interior, and put him in confrontation with the people and parliament after his distinguished performance in his work? What happened to the citizen Abdullah Al-Aradah completely contradicts the state of the constitution and the law. Whoever tarnishes the state’s reputation must be immediately stopped from working, and the matter must be clarified to the public and the results of the investigation published.”
The activist Jafar Mohammed wrote, “Abdullah Al-Aradah, peace be upon you, and for the State Security, there is prestige. Some of its members should not turn it into disappointment. I see under the ashes a glimmer of ember that some want to ignite in the way of the successes of the people’s minister, Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, the successful and popular one, who applies the law in letter and spirit.”
The activist Abdulrahman Al-Anjari tweeted, “Article 36 of the constitution guarantees freedom of expression, and what citizen Abdullah Al-Aradah was subjected to should not pass unnoticed. But what is strange and surprising is the silence of most members of the National Assembly, who always clamor in defense of public freedoms! Remember the famous Arab proverb, ‘It ate as the white bull ate!'”