FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 17829 RAMADAN 5, 1440 AH FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019 Handmade ‘choola’, girgian boxes Lucas Moura, from PSG 6 unique to Kuwaiti homes in Ramadan 46 cast-off to Spurs idol IMSAK 03:21 Fajr 03:31 Dhur 11:44 Asr 15:20 Magrib 18:30 Isha 19:55 Ramadan scenes from the souq 2 Friday Local Friday, May 10, 2019 PHOTO OF THE DAY KUWAIT: Workers break their fast at the fish market in Sharq during the holy month of Ramadan. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Eating during daytime in Ramadan Local Spotlight sanctity of this holy month by observing public order, arrest of dozens of citizens. They were freed after paying a respecting the feelings of fasting Muslims, not going fine of 50 pounds. against the customs and traditions prevalent in society and But a large number of Arab countries, including Kuwait, the need to refrain from eating during the daytime in impose a penalty on those who openly break the fast in Ramadan. Ramadan, ranging from fines to imprisonment. I believe By Muna Al-Fuzai A number of clerics believe that workers whose jobs are that such matters should be based on public morality, [email protected] under the sun can eat and drink if fasting will cause harm whether there is a law or not, but we must take into con- to them. They should preferably do this discreetly to sideration that we are also home to many non-Muslim ith the beginning of Ramadan, the information respect the sanctity of this month and take into considera- expats. Wdepartment of the interior ministry in Kuwait tion the feelings of fasting people. We cannot require them not to drink or eat during the reminded the public of the importance of However, there is a clear difference between many cler- day in Ramadan, but perhaps it is better not to eat during respecting the feelings of all fasting people by not eating ics about breaking the fast. Some people reject this view the day openly so as not to cause arguments or go to jail. openly during daytime, whether on the street, public even for workers, and call for workers to work only at Non-Muslim people need to respect the feelings of fasting places or workplaces. Law no. (44/1968) stipulates impris- nighttime. This issue has become a subject of debate not Muslims and should not deliberately drink and eat in front onment for a term not exceeding one month and a fine not only in Kuwait, but also in Tunisia, about the right to of them. exceeding KD 100 or one of these two penalties for viola- refrain from fasting. Some insist on this right, while others I believe that it is necessary to verify the identity of the tors. reject it. person in case they are caught doing such an action in According to the law, any person who is forced, insti- In 2018, some young Tunisians carried out a protest, order to maintain social peace and stability. gated or assisted in such an action may be subjected to the considering abstaining from fasting as an individual liberty, I want to alert all non-Muslims on the importance of penalty of closing of the store which is used for this pur- drinking water and smoking cigarettes openly in order to taking this matter seriously so as not to be exposed to pose for a period not exceeding two months. assert their right to break the fast without fear. problems and avoid eating and drinking publicly during This law, which has been on the books for years, In another example, the Egyptian government launched the daytime in Ramadan. The government must punish became a matter of debate this year among some people, security campaigns in 2009, 2014 and 2016 to counter the companies that deploy workers during the day because of while the MoI stressed the importance of preserving the phenomenon of people breaking the fast, resulting in the the extreme heat and risks involved. 4 Friday Local Friday, May 10, 2019 or food merchants around Kuwait, business is always booming in Ramadan. Other businesses also flourish Fas shoppers look for many different things to buy dur- ing the holy month. Whether it is vegetables, dates, meats, groceries, sweets, the ‘fanoos’ or traditional lantern and other decorative items, people can always find what they need as markets typically stay open well past midnight throughout the holy month. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat and Joseph Shagra Friday 5 Local Friday, May 10, 2019 6 Friday Friday, May 10, 2019 Handmade ‘choola’, girgian boxes unique to Kuwaiti homes in Ramadan By Ben Garcia larger boxes cost around KD 15.” The boxes are made of wood and corrugated tin, and embel- amadan generates higher revenues for businesses, not just lished with designs distinct to Kuwait. “The design and combina- for food items, but also non-food products like ‘choolas’ tion of colors are unique to Kuwait - they are very Kuwaiti and R(braziers) and girgian boxes. Stoves and cooking ranges are popular,” Tinwala added. His shop is known to some in the market the bestselling non-food items during Ramadan, as they are fre- by the name of his father Sameer. “He is into the electrical and quently used in Kuwaiti households. The handmade ‘choola’ is construction supply business. Eight years ago, my father added unique to many Kuwaiti homes. Like girgian boxes, the choola is this business. I’ve been running this shop for the last six years, one handmade, and decorated with beautiful designs. year after I graduated from college in India,” he told Kuwait “I have got many orders from companies and individuals ahead Times. of Ramadan. For us, Ramadan is something unique and special,” Adnan admires his father because of his never-say-die attitude. said Adnan Tinwala, a shop owner at Souq Safafeer (tin market) Sameer started working in Kuwait as a carpenter in the wood- in Kuwait City. “Our sales are increasing every Ramadan - by 30 working industry in Shuwaikh industrial area. One day, his friend percent to even 100 percent,” he said. offered him a shop, which he stocked with electrical and construc- Girgian boxes are ordered a few months before Ramadan by tion products. Sameer still runs that shop. Eight years ago, he di- many retailers. “We need to deliver the girgian boxes one or two versified his business by opening the box workshop in Souq weeks before Ramadan so that they can be displayed,” Tinwala Safafeer, a traditional iron and tin market in Kuwait City. said. Girgian bags are known to many children in Kuwait, but gir- Souq Safafeer’s history can be traced back to the early 1950s. gian boxes are used by adults to store girgian gifts. “Kids are into It eventually became known to many in Kuwait as a popular des- smaller bags of gifts, but adults want it bigger. The boxes are col- tination for people seeking corrugated tin, iron or stainless steel orfully designed. Those ordering such boxes are private compa- products like braziers, cargo trunks, storage lockers, barbeque nies and government ministries,” he said. “The bigger the box, the stands, cooking pots and even caskets for the dead. higher the price - small girgian boxes will cost you KD 3, while KUWAIT: Adnan Tinwala works on a handmade ‘choola’ at his shop in Souq Safafeer. Friday 7 Friday, May 10, 2019 8 Friday Local Friday, May 10, 2019 Amir receives Saudi Minister of State; phone call from Oman Deputy Premier KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives Saudi Minister of State His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Saudi Minister of State and and Saudi cabinet member Prince Turki bin Mohammad bin Fahad Al-Saud. — Amiri Diwan photos Saudi cabinet member Prince Turki bin Mohammad bin Fahad Al-Saud. KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah congratulated His Highness the Amir and His Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir Sheikh tire Muslim nation on the occasion of the holy Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with the atten- Highness the Crown Prince on the holy month Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received a month of Ramadan. His Highness the Amir dance of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh of Ramadan. Deputy Chief of the National phone call from Omani Deputy Prime Minister thanked the Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, received Guard Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- for Cabinet Affairs Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmoud the kind call, expressing hope for even closer on Wednesday the visiting Saudi Minister of Sabah and First Deputy Prime Minister, Minis- Al-Said on Wednesday. During the conversa- ties between the two sisterly countries and State and Saudi cabinet member Prince Turki ter of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad tion, the Omani senior official expressed his wishing the Sultanate of Oman more prosperity bin Mohammad bin Fahad Al-Saud and his ac- Al-Sabah and several sheikhs attended the best wishes for His Highness the Amir, and the under the wise leadership of Sultan Qaboos bin companying delegation. The Saudi minister meeting. peoples of Kuwait and Oman, as well as the en- Said Al-Said. —KUNA tegrity of the country through the respect of Kuwait calls for its national constitution and judiciary. In a speech on the country’s state of affairs, Zain partners with MyHome app self-restraint Kuwait’s representative at the United Nations called on factions there to ensure the imple- mentation of the Dayton peace accord and KUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital service in Libya relevant Security Council resolutions.