KUWAIT CITY, Sept 6: Lawmaker Mubarak Al-Khurainej applauded the Ministry of Communications for shutting down a blog deemed offensive to the wives and companions of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
Several lawmakers, both the Sunnis and Shiites, expressed anger and disappointment over remarks allegedly posted online by a Shiite blogger - Yasser Al-Habib - who insulted the Prophet’s (PBUH) wives and friends. They urged the government to stop the publication of these offensive posts on the Internet and went as far as threatening to take harsh measures against the government if it fails to punish the blogger.

Warning the blog may “lead to sectarian conflicts and undermine national unity”, Al-Khurainej urged the ministry to ban similar websites that attack Islamic tenets and defame Muslim icons “as they jeopardize national unity, foment sectarian tension and promote tribal or ethnic discrimination”. “We are in dire need of people with pure hearts, rational minds and commitment to confront all those who insult us and the whole Kuwaiti nation, regardless of their sects, beliefs or faiths,” Al-Khurainej asserted.

Agencies add:
Government authorities are taking all legal action against Yasser Al-Habib who had reportedly spoken at a religious event against one of the wives of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), a senior official said Sunday. Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan told KUNA the government would take all measures against “anyone who attack our religiuos beliefs, wives of Prophet (peace be upon him), his companions and Muslim figures.” Habib’s remarks are against “teachings of Islam ... which call for importance of respecting wives of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), the companions and boosting Islamic unity,” he said.

Lawmaker Mohammad Hayef said he and some of his colleagues will take a serious stance against the government for maintaining silence on the derogatory statements made by Yasser Habib about Prophet’s wife Ayesha (May God be pleased with her), reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Hayef said the country is waiting to see what stance the government takes on the statements made by the disbeliever and fugitive Yasser Habib concerning Ayesha who is highly revered in Islam. He added that the entire world is expecting a reaction from the government because the miscreant holds Kuwaiti nationality. “The government’s response or lack of it is strange and embarrassing,” he said, adding “the government has many options and the necessary authority to take action, but it is not doing so.”

The lawmaker indicated that questions were being raised about this person since several months as he has repeatedly insulted the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) and continues to offend people’s beliefs. “The ministry of Interior, however, did not respond to any of the questions until now,” he stated.
Meanwhile, MP Mubarak Al-Waalan asked the Ministry of Interior to coordinate with Interpol and other authorities to get fugitive Yasser Al-Habib arrested and legally tried in Kuwait “so that it serves as a lesson for anyone even thinking about offending the symbols and great people of Islam,” reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Al-Habib had earlier made derogatory remarks about Prophet’s wife Ayesha. The lawmaker demanded that Al-Habib’s nationality be withdrawn and his website, which is full of irreligious content, be blocked, as a way of supporting Prophet’s wife Ayesha and maintaining the reputation of Kuwait. “Why was Al-Habib’s nationality not withdrawn as it was for some people? Is offending companions and family of the Prophet (PBUH) not as important?” he asked.

Al-Waalan asked the ministry not to adopt ‘double standards’ in dealing with nationality files. “Al-Habib’s actions were far more excessive than the misdeeds of those whose nationality was revoked, yet he continues to enjoy Kuwaiti nationality,” he said. The lawmaker also threatened Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Sabah saying, “a grilling will be filed against the minister if proper action is not taken against the liar and he is not held accountable. Action should also be taken against all those who smuggled him out of Kuwait.”