Kuwaitis Stage Rallies against Ruling Family

Navideshahed: Thousands of Kuwaitis rallied in front of the parliament on Monday demanding the election of a prime minister from outside the ruling Al-Sabah family and voicing opposition against the appointment of the ruling family's affiliates in important governmental posts.

News ID: ۳۶۴۹۳۶

دوشنبه - ۱۱ آذر ۲۰۱۲ / 2012 11 September

Among the protestors were 21 lawmakers from the opposition-majority parliament which was elected in February before being dissolved months later after the constitutional court declared the polls illegal and reinstated the previous pro-government parliament.

"We have decided as people that (Prime Minister) Jaber al-Mubarak will be the last prime minister... from the Al-Sabah" family, prominent Islamist MP Walid al-Tabtabaie told the rally.

Since 2006, the government has resigned nine times and parliament has been dissolved on five occasions.

"Our problem is with the members of the family who must be kept away from ministerial positions," said former MP Khaled Shakheer.

"I will come every evening to the Determination Square with the people until our demands are met," he told the demonstrators.

The rally was called for by Nahj - an umbrella group of Islamist and independent opposition and youth activists who have called for an overthrow of the monarchy concept in Kuwait.

Hundreds of opposition activists insisted on remaining in the square even after the demonstration was over despite a ban by the interior ministry on any sit-ins.

The demonstrators are also protesting against a government move to amend the electoral law.

A similar rally took place last week against the move, described by the opposition as a coup against the constitutional system.

Opposition activists said on Monday that they will continue their protests until the constitutional court announces its final decision on amending the electoral law later this month.

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Source: Fars News Agency

Among the protestors were 21 lawmakers from the opposition-majority parliament which was elected in February before being dissolved months later after the constitutional court declared the polls illegal and reinstated the previous pro-government parliament. "We have decided as people that (Prime Minister) Jaber al-Mubarak will be the last prime minister... from the Al-Sabah" family, prominent Islamist MP Walid al-Tabtabaie told the rally. Since 2006, the government has resigned nine times and parliament has been dissolved on five occasions. "Our problem is with the members of the family who must be kept away from ministerial positions," said former MP Khaled Shakheer. "I will come every evening to the Determination Square with the people until our demands are met," he told the demonstrators. The rally was called for by Nahj - an umbrella group of Islamist and independent opposition and youth activists who have called for an overthrow of the monarchy concept in Kuwait. Hundreds of opposition activists insisted on remaining in the square even after the demonstration was over despite a ban by the interior ministry on any sit-ins. The demonstrators are also protesting against a government move to amend the electoral law. A similar rally took place last week against the move, described by the opposition as a coup against the constitutional system. Opposition activists said on Monday that they will continue their protests until the constitutional court announces its final decision on amending the electoral law later this month. The End Source: Fars News Agency