The 56th session of the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights kicks off, chaired by Kuwait.- KUNA photos
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Robust security plan for husseiniyas
Interior minister leads field inspections • New safety rules for Muharram gatherings
KUWAIT: With the onset of the month of Muharram, Kuwaiti authorities have launched an intensive security and organizational campaign to safeguard religious gatherings, with senior officials visiting husseiniyas to assess field readiness. Leading the effort, First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah conducted a high-profile field tour on Friday morning, inspecting several husseiniyas and majalis to evaluate the implementation of the country’s comprehensive Muharram security plan.
According to the interior ministry, Sheikh Fahad reviewed emergency protocols, traffic and crowd management strategies, and inter-agency coordination with the Kuwait Fire Force and emergency medical services. During his visit, he praised both security personnel and husseiniya officials for their close coordination, noting that the mutual commitment “helps ensure a safe, orderly, and respectful environment for commemorating Ashura.” Sheikh Fahad also visited National Guard units assigned to Muharram security, commending their role in the broader security framework. “The readiness of our teams across all sectors is critical to this national effort,” he said.
Meanwhile, Acting Interior Ministry Undersecretary Lt Gen Ali Al-Adwani conducted his own inspection of checkpoints and operational sites around husseiniyas. He stressed the importance of adhering to the approved security plan and praised the discipline shown by field officers. “Coordination between the
ministry of interior and National Guard is essential to ensuring swift and effective responses to any incident,” he said.
Sheikh Fahad’s tours followed a series of high-level meetings with husseiniya representatives. The first, held on June 19, resulted in a set of unprecedented regulations, including relocating Muharram gatherings from traditional husseiniyas to secure public schools. “The political leadership is keen on ensuring the performance of religious rituals while taking into account the regional circumstances and current security conditions,” Sheikh Fahad said during the meeting.
A follow-up session on June 24 led to additional rules issued by a committee of husseiniya representatives. These included limiting home-based majalis to a maximum of 50 attendees, banning gatherings outside the premises, and prohibiting the use of outdoor loudspeakers. Donations and traditional Ashura meals (tabkh al-baraka) remain permitted but must follow specific safety guidelines. Sermons must avoid political messaging, and religious gatherings in mosques are required to conclude by 9 pm.
The interior ministry has been granted sole authority over all organizational matters related to Muharram, centralizing oversight to ensure consistency and security. Officials emphasized that the arrangements aim to balance public safety with freedom of worship. In a statement following the June 19 meeting, husseiniya leaders expressed appreciation for Sheikh Fahad’s approach. “We thank the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior for giving us the opportunity to meet amid these exceptional circumstances,” the statement read, reaffirming their support for efforts to protect both public safety and religious freedoms. – Agencies
KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) Khalifa Al-Ajeel said on Monday that protecting the commercial and industrial system is a “national responsibility that requires concerted efforts.”
Minister Al-Ajeel emphasized in a statement to KUNA following an extensive inspection campaign in the south Amghara scrap yard, to “firmly deal with all violations and encroachments in accordance with legal frameworks where no one is above the law.”
Al-Ajeel confirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns as well until the desired goals are reached, foremost being is restoring order and discipline to the area and removing all violations and encroachments.
He affirmed the ministry and the PAI’s commitment to cooperating with relevant authorities to continue these campaigns to ensure a safe and organized industrial and commercial environment.
The campaign resulted in the seizure of several violations and closure of several non-compliant units in preparation for taking necessary legal action against their exploiters.
Participating in the campaign was General Fire Force (KFF) Chief Major General Talal Al-Roumi, along with several executive leaders from the PAI. — KUNA
CAIRO: The 56th regular session of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights commenced on Monday with the participation of Kuwait and representatives from Arab states concerned with human rights affairs. In his opening address, Ahmed Maghari, supervisor of the Human Rights Department at the League of Arab States, underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling it a stark indicator of the region’s human rights reality. “We cannot speak of the state of human rights without acknowledging the catastrophic conditions faced by our brothers in Gaza, where securing the most basic necessities has become a matter of survival,” he said. Maghari described the ongoing Zionist aggression in Gaza as a profound moral and humanitarian challenge, noting that the Palestinian people continue to endure daily suffering under constant bombardment, displacement and destruction. He lamented the international community’s continued inaction in the face of clear violations of international law and human rights norms. “The occupying power persists in defying international legitimacy and the decisions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice,” he said.
Held at a time of mounting regional tensions, the session comes amid escalating challenges that directly affect fundamental human rights. Maghari highlighted the Committee’s historic role since its establishment in 1968 in developing the Arab human rights framework both legally and practically, while also fostering cooperation with regional and international partners. He expressed hope that the session would yield effective recommendations to help confront the pressing challenges in the region. He pointed to the rise of conflicts and violence globally, along with the resulting serious human rights violations, as major concerns.
Emerging issues such as the intersection of human rights with climate change, artificial intelligence, and the spread of alien ideologies that undermine human dignity were also noted. “In light of these challenges, we must reinforce our solidarity and collective action to enhance peace, stability, and the security of our societies,” Maghari added. The two-day session, chaired by Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights, will review the General Secretariat’s report on the implementation of previous recommendations up to the 55th session.
Discussions will also focus on Zionist violations in occupied Arab territories, the plight of Arab prisoners and detainees in Zionist prisons, and the issue of the bodies of Palestinian and Arab martyrs held in so-called “numbered cemeteries.” Other agenda items include the Arab Charter on Human Rights and preparations for Arab Human Rights Day, which will be observed on March 16, 2026. Kuwait is represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah.— KUNA
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