Cabinet instructs investigation into municipal staff's Ashura malpractices

The cabinet has ordered a fact-finding committee to investigate recently reported misconduct by municipal employees during Ashura celebrations. The order was made during a weekly cabinet meeting held at Bayan Palace chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. During the meeting, the ministers listened to a briefing by Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of Municipal Affairs Salem Al-Utheina on reports that some municipal workers had recently committed unacceptable behaviors that provoked a Kuwaiti societal category while removing kiosks put up to mark the annual Ashura ceremony. Ashura falls on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram. The Day of Ashura is a period of mourning for the killing of the prophet Mohammad's grandson, Hussein. The cabinet instructed immediate measures to investigate the incident, to bring those involved to accountability and to fend off the recurrence of such malpractices in the future, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of Health Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah said in news remarks following the meeting. While condemning such an unacceptable act, the cabinet stressed full respect to all categories of the Kuwaiti society, and keenness to enable them to practice their rituals so freely and comfortably, he said. It also urged citizens and mass media to resolutely resist anything that could undermine their national unity, to stick to national constants, to work sincerely to ensure Kuwait's development and prosperity, and to safeguard national security and stability, he added. On the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit, the cabinet hoped that the gathering, due on Tuesday, would achieve "positive results" that would improve well-being of the Arab and African people, the minister noted. The cabinet said the two-day summit reflected His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's keenness on "activating the Arab-African cooperation." His Highness Sheikh Sabah is also keen on exploring new horizons of cooperation between the two regions, which reflects "positive civilized interaction for the sake of advancement and prosperity of mankind," the minister remarked. He noted that the cabinet welcomed the guests of His Highness the Amir who already started arriving in Kuwait for the November 19-20 summit. As many as 71 delegations from nations and international organizations would be attending the Summit, including over 34 heads of state, seven deputy leaders and three prime ministers. Also during the meeting, the ministers were apprised of a recent letter sent to His Highness the Amir from Comoros President Dr. Ikililou Dhoinine, thanking Kuwait for supporting his country and helping it improve its economic and financial conditions. Afterwards, the cabinet listened to a briefing from His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on the outcomes of his recent visits to India and Pakistan. It further congratulated the Sultanate of Oman on its national day, hailing achievements made during the era of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said in all fields. The ministers finally discussed reports on the latest Arab and international political developments