KUWAIT CITY, Sept 24:  Banning the display of certain books at the Kuwait International Book Fair is tantamount to restricting freedom of expression, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Writers and Chairman of the Writers Union in Egypt Mohammed Salmawi.
This came after Assistant Undersecretary for Press and Publication Affairs at the Ministry of Information Tariq Al-Ajmi confirmed that he received the list of books banned from the fair.

Admitting that he somehow expected the decision of the ministry to ban the books of some Egyptian writers, Salmawi pointed out this decision is a cultural violation as it is aimed at controlling people’s thoughts.  He appealed to the Kuwaiti Writers Union to thwart any attempt to restrict freedom of expression.
Commenting on the same issue, Freedoms Committee Chairman at the Kuwait Society for Human Rights Salah Al-Madhef criticized the ministry’s decision.  He argued this decision contravenes the Constitution, which guarantees the public and personal freedoms, as well as the freedom to conduct scientific research.  He also urged the civil societies and the pro-freedom lawmakers to coordinate their efforts to end the improper censorship of books.