Kuwait: Decision to Dissolve National Assembly Widely Welcomed

A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
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Kuwait: Decision to Dissolve National Assembly Widely Welcomed

A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

The decision of Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al Sabah to constitutionally dissolve the National Assembly and call for new general elections was widely welcomed by politicians and parliament members.

National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim said in a tweet: “Based on Sharia, the Constitution, and our morals as Kuwaitis, we must rally around the political leadership in what it sees as the supreme interest of the nation, and support and assist it until we take Kuwait to safety.”

In a speech on behalf of Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah, Sheikh Meshal said: “We have decided to dissolve the National Assembly and call for general elections… The people themselves will have the final word in correcting the political scene by selecting those who properly represent them.”

Former National Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Emir of Kuwait and the Crown Prince.

For his part, former MP Musallam Al-Barrak said: “Thank you, Your Highness, you have made a wise decision to preserve Kuwait and its people, and you have fulfilled your oath before God and the people… Peace has settled in the hearts of the people.”

The National Democratic Alliance in Kuwait issued a statement in which it valued the constitutional principles on which the political leadership’s discourse was based, especially with regards to giving the Kuwaiti people the opportunity “to choose their representatives without the interference of the political authority.”

The National Democratic Alliance called on all political parties and the Kuwaiti people “to seize this opportunity to rebuild confidence in our political and democratic institutions and to choose their representatives wisely for the next assembly.”

The Islamic Constitutional Movement said that the crown prince’s speech ended the political impasse in the country.

In a statement, the movement said: “The constitutional dissolution of the National Assembly ends the complete paralysis that afflicted the two authorities, which halted the desired development and disrupted legislation and serious oversight. Returning to the people is the ideal constitutional solution, which affirms that the nation is the source of all powers.”

MP Ali Al-Kattan called on the people to rally behind the Kuwaiti leadership, saying: “Following the speech of His Highness, Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al Sabah, we can only rally around our wise political leadership that puts the interest of Kuwait and its people above everything else.”



Saudi General Authority for Awqaf Launches Awareness Hajj Campaign

A general of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
A general of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
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Saudi General Authority for Awqaf Launches Awareness Hajj Campaign

A general of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
A general of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Awqaf has launched its awareness campaign for the Hajj season, highlighting the vital role of endowments in serving pilgrims.

The campaign aims to showcase various endowment initiatives that facilitate the Hajj journey, while providing pilgrims a comprehensive spiritual experience rooted in care, generosity, and solidarity, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

Through its awareness campaign, the authority aims to boost community understanding of the crucial role endowments play in supporting projects related to guidance, accommodation, water supply, translation services, safety, and educational programs at the two holy mosques.

It also supports initiatives that integrate various government agencies, such as the Pilgrims City in Al-Jouf Region, which receives pilgrims arriving by land through the Kingdom's northern border crossings, and the Makkah Route Initiative, which aims to serve more than one million pilgrims.

The campaign is part of the authority’s ongoing efforts to emphasize the developmental and social values of endowments and to activate their role during significant seasons of worship. This reinforces the authority’s position as a development enabler and strategic partner in serving pilgrims.