KUWAIT CITY, Sept 12: Kuwait Human Rights Society (KHRS) asked the concerned authorities to refer Yasser Al-Habib, who has been accused of offending the wives and companions of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), to a fair court to ensure that he is punished in accordance with the law, reports Al-Rai daily.
In a recent press statement, the society outrightly rejected the demand of some MPs to revoke the citizenship of Al-Habib, since he obtained it legally and this step is a violation of the Constitution and the law. It also warned against the repetition of the erroneous cancellation of citizenship of Suleiman Bu Ghaith many years ago.
The society asserted any erring citizen should be dealt with legally and he should not be harmed by depriving him of his right to the citizenship, which he obtained through his father and grandfather. “The authorities must handle religion-related cases, such as offending the wives and companions of the Prophet (PBUH), without abusing the constitutional rights of citizens,” the society added.

Commenting on the same issue, MP Hussein Mezyed appealed to the government to issue a firm stand on the case of Al-Habib, particularly since the Interpol has rejected its request for the arrest and extradition of the blogger. He said there is nothing left for the government to do but to revoke the citizenship of Al-Habib to serve as a deterrent to others.
MP Dr Ali Al-Omair admitted he was surprised when Al-Habib issued a statement that he did not escape as he allegedly left the country through an Amiri amnesty. He clarified Al-Habib was included in the list of prisoners, who deserve an Amiri pardon, but it was done by mistake, so he should quickly return to Kuwait to face the charges filed against him.

Meanwhile, looking into the causes of sectarian tension from the root is more important than finding effective ways to deal with the issue; hence, the need to stop anything that might divide the nation, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting Kuwaiti Democratic Minbar.
The organization expressed disappointment over the latest developments in the political and parliamentary fields, particularly the statement of an extremist, who offended one of the high Islamic characters, in addition to the reaction of the government, some lawmakers, political forces and mass media. It also pointed out the fact that some people created more problems through the exaggeration of this reckless behavior, which does not deserve anybody’s attention because it was released for cheap media consumption.

Considering the above scenario, the organization presented its views on what happened over the last few days as follows:
* Kuwaiti Democratic Minbar condemns any attempt to use the Kuwaiti nationality as a punishment in political conflicts for whatever reason because it is not a tool in the hands of politicians.
* The organization holds some lawmakers responsible for their hasty demands without considering the long-term implications.
* The organization warns the government against any delay in the implementation of laws and ensuring equality among citizens.
* The organization demands full support for the schools curricula, which promote tolerance among people in the same country.
* The organization asked the government to establish a national committee affiliated to the Supreme Council for Planning. The panel should include specialists, academicians and representatives from active civil society institutions to adopt suitable solutions to douse sectarian tension.
In conclusion, the organization thanked the National Islamic Alliance (NIA) and other organizations for striving to calm down the situation.