KUWAIT CITY, Oct 16: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) denounced the “rioting violent behavior of protesters” after an opposition rally on Monday at Al-Erada Square, believing that “some troublemakers had pre-planned a clash with securitymen by throwing stones and bottles.”

Four protesters remain in custody pending legal action on Wednesday after complaints were recorded against them by security personnel. Meanwhile, the State Security has reportedly filed complaints against former lawmakers for their hard-line rhetoric addressing HH the Amir at the Diwans of former MPs Salem Al-Namlan and Mohammed Al-Khalifa.

Furthermore, amidst extensive security presence, opposition lawmakers and affiliated groups and supporters held a sit-in in Al-Erada Square on Tuesday in solidarity with the detainees. The Majority Bloc decided to continue sit-ins and marches in objection to electoral changes.

In a statement to the press, the Interior Ministry said “that despite the patience and self-restraint of security officers, protesters and rioters insisted on marching outside the arena assigned for peaceful protest, which lead to obstruction of traffic and interests”. Troublemakers also attempted to bring down barriers causing the injury of a number of security men and demonstrators, who were sent to hospitals for treatment, the MoI added.

The ministry condemned the occurrence of such unfortunate events at a time when HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is hosting guests of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). “We have emphasized the right to free expression and has fully committed to neutrality to ensure the maximum of all sides, if not for some protestors disregarding the law and following the policy of riots and violence,” the MoI said, stressing that it will continue to work to prevent such illegal practices.

On the other hand, former lawmakers of the opposition Majority Bloc and affiliated groups condemned “the beating of protestors with batons” and the arrests of four protesters, including the son of veteran former MP Ahmed Al-Saadoun. Former MP Ali Al-Deqbasi said security officers could have refrained from using batons against the protesting youth.

“Participants of the rally attended to uphold the Constitution and the law, not to cause trouble as some try to portray the event to mislead. I was present at the seminar until the people departed and I saw many provocative and unnecessary barriers,” he said.

The Civil Democratic Movement as well as the National Front for the Protection of the Constitution called for a rally at Al-Erada Square Tuesday evening in solidarity with the detained protestors, to call for their release.

Meanwhile, the Majority Bloc held a meeting at the Diwan of former MP Hamad Al-Mattar to assess Monday’s events to issue “a detailed official statement”. The bloc agreed to continue Al-Erada sit-ins and marches.

It was also agreed that opposition MPs, including those who participated in Monday’s events, would file a complaint on Wednesday with the Kuwait Society for Human Rights against Brigadier Ali Madi of the Special forces and the Ministry of the Interior on charges of kidnapping and assault on the young detainees.

“Ali Madi provoked the youth and clashed with them and we have video and audio evidence ... They want to turn the country into a police state. “ said MP Musallam Al-Barrak, speaking at Al-Erada Square following the bloc’s meeting.

The opposition is raising the bar with its rhetoric and actions against the government in objection to what they believe are attempts to change the elections system to ensure that an opposition-led Parliament does not return. Hard-line speeches directed at HH the Amir were made by former lawmakers airing their grievances, one of which was given by Al-Barrak before Monday’s clash with security officers.