KUWAIT CITY, Feb 7: Syrian expats arrested for storming their country’s embassy Saturday will be deported to the country of their choice after court rulings, said the Ministry of Interior (MoI) Tuesday.
Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Humoud Al-Sabah said the expats who stormed the Syrian Embassy will be provided with “fair trials as per Kuwaiti laws. After the rulings, they will be deported to any country they choose.”

He added that Kuwait will not allow anyone to attack or damage any embassies, consulates or diplomatic missions hosted by the country as per the Vienna Convention, which explicitly states that all countries are responsible for providing those entities with the maximum protection against all acts of abuse or harm.     

Sheikh Ahmed recalled when he was Interior Minister in 1991 and in a similar position, immediately following Kuwait’s liberation. Detained Iraqi nationals, who had to be deported, were sent to countries other than Iraq for their safety as the former Iraqi regime would have executed them.

“The same will apply to the Syrians who attacked and broke into their embassy and failed to abide by the laws and observe the principles of hospitality,” he explained.

The Interior Minister further urged all expatriates to respect Kuwait’s laws, as it is their duty as guests to adhere to this responsibility.

Dozens of Syrian nationals were arrested Saturday dawn, along with Kuwaiti demonstrators, for breaking into the Syrian Embassy and damaging its property. They were protesting the Syrian regime’s brutality and killing of civilians in the district of Homs and other areas.

Furthermore, the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) issued a statement condemning the bloodshed that is occurring in Syria. It urged all Arab countries to cut relations with President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, to expel the Syrian ambassadors, to recognize Syria’s transitional council and to release Syrians who have stormed their embassies out of anger.

Meanwhile, pro-government MP Ali Al-Rashid announced he will not be contesting for the position of Speaker of Parliament, but will support pro-government colleague MP Mohammed Al-Saqr instead. The move indicates that only two major players will contest for the position, Al-Saqr and veteran MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun, with Al-Saadoun being the candidate that is backed by tribal Islamist MPs who constitute the majority of parliament.

Furthermore, independent ICM MP Faisal Al-Yahya announced he will contest for the position of Supervisor of the National Assembly. He said he will hold consultations with all lawmakers of various affiliations to win their support.

Elections for various NA posts will be held during the assembly’s opening session on Feb 15. The assembly will also elect members to work in parliament committees and opposition tribal MPs with Islamist alliances are said to be coordinating in order to control the major committees, such as the Legal and Legislative, the Interior and Defense as well as the Protection of Public Funds.

Islamist MPs, including the Popular Action Bloc (PAB), held a meeting Tuesday hosted by Islamist MP Mohammed Hayef and confirmed that they will support MP Ahmed Al-Saadoun as Speaker of Parliament and Salafi MP Khaled Sultan as Deputy Speaker. They also added they will support MP Abdullah Al-Barghash as Secretary and Al-Yahya as Supervisor.

The meeting, attended by 18 tribal and Islamist MPs, also agreed to pursue the amendment of Article two of the Constitution so that it fully be Islamic Sharia compliant. Al-Saadoun reportedly affirmed that he also supports the initiative.

On another note, Shiite MP Ahmad Lari assured Tuesday that the “minority MPs” will not be marginalized and weak in front of the majority’s agenda, and will resort to the streets within the framework of the law to face them. He added that all sides need to cooperate to achieve the needs of Kuwait and development.