US Allies Seek to Bring Gitmo Detainees Home
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SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2013 RAMADAN 5, 1434 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Egypt’s divide Spread of DNA Moyes’ United turns brother databases sparks reign begins Emsak: 03:14 against brother ethical concerns with shock loss Fajer: 03:25 Dohr: 11:54 Asr: 15:28 Maghreb: 18:49 8 28 20 Eshaa: 20:20 US allies seek to bring Max 47º Min 33º Gitmo detainees home High Tide 03:46 & 15:05 Kuwait hires lobbyists to help bring prisoners home Low Tide 09:35 & 21:53 40 PAGES NO: 15869 150 FILS WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s renewed Ramadan Kareem push to close the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorism suspects has given a glimmer of hope to foreign gov- ernments that he will fulfill that promise and triggered Spirit of Ramadan diplomatic maneuvering from US allies eager to bring home long-held detainees. Kuwait has hired lobbyists By Noorah Riyadh to help bring its two remaining prisoners home. British Prime Minister David Cameron personally o me, the foremost quality that characterizes pressed Obama at the Group of 8 summit last month to the spirit of Ramadan is its transformational release the United Kingdom’s final detainee. And the nature. Things that seem impossible become T fate of Afghans being held at the US military prison in not only achievable but implementable. Ramadan Cuba has been at the forefront of peace talks between forces us to reconsider our priorities and reflect the US, Taleban and Afghanistan. The indefinite captivi- upon our situation individually and collectively. We ty has created tension with some important US allies, have to make conscious choices when it comes to particularly in the Arab world, the native home of many our physical, spiritual, social, and financial dealings of the 166 remaining detainees. during this month and sometimes the choices that Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen are among those countries we make have far greater implications than we could that have pressed the US to turn over their nationals. ever have foreseen. The Obama administration is in the midst of determin- It was during the month of Ramadan many, many ing which detainees present the lowest risk for terrorist years ago that my own father made the most activity if released - considering both their personal his- momentous decision of his life...To non-Muslims, tories and security in the countries to which they will be especially in our era of mass consumption, the con- returned. cept of willingly depriving oneself of food and drink More than 100 of the detainees have participated in in Ramadan might seem somewhat baffling, howev- a hunger strike to protest their indefinite confinement, er to my own father - who happened to meet with several dozen having been force fed through a Muslims on a beach in Malaysia who were fasting on nasal tube to keep them from starving, although the a scorchingly hot day in Ramadan- it was the spark military reported Friday that most have resumed eating. that re-ignited his own search for God. David Cynamon, an American lawyer based in the This seemingly simple and personal act of devo- GUANTANAMO BAY: In this file photo, US military guards walk within the Camp Delta military-run prison, at Middle East who is working with Kuwait on getting their tion of theirs re-awakened in him the voice of his the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba. — AP Continued on Page 15 own soul and it began urgently whispering to him once again: Had he given up on God too easily? Had he written off all religions too soon and without thorough and comprehensive investigation? But Saudi urges elderly to avoid haj mostly, he wondered what he was prepared to sacri- fice for the sake of his Lord -who he had never stopped longing for...and he began fasting also. MERS Coronavirus death toll hits 38 And this is the essence, the spirit of Ramadan -it forces you to ponder your relationship with your RIYADH: Saudi Arabia yesterday urged eld- tory diseases, and diabetes”. spread of the SARS-like coronavirus, which Experts are struggling to understand Creator. It makes you question what you stand for erly and chronically ill Muslims not to per- People with immunity deficiency, as has infected 65 people in Saudi Arabia and MERS, or Middle East Respiratory and it inspires you to struggle for something higher form the haj pilgrimage, to curb the spread well as children and pregnant women, are led to 38 fatalities. Those figures represent Syndrome. The WHO has not recommend- and better than the mere routine that we allow our- of the MERS coronavirus which has killed also listed, according to a ministry state- the majority of people affected worldwide ed any MERS-related travel restrictions, but selves to settle into. Moreover, it pushes us beyond 38 in the kingdom. The health ministry ment posted on its website. The statement - 81 cases of infection and 45 deaths- says countries should monitor unusual res- what we think we are capable of. issued a set of conditions for people want- did not set an age limit, and it was not according to the World Health piratory infection patterns. The first record- It was the fasting of Ramadan that inspired my ing to perform the annual haj, which this clear if the recommendation implies that Organization. The Saudi decision comes ed MERS death was in June last year in father to begin his search for God again in earnest year falls in October, or the year-round no visas will be issued for such pilgrims. after the WHO convened emergency talks Saudi Arabia. Like SARS, MERS appears to and with an open heart and mind and it was his omra or minor pilgrimage. They recom- The ministry said that the conditions were on MERS last week, with concerns cause a lung infection, with patients suffer- unfailing love of God and especially of Jesus (peace mend postponing the omra and haj this part of “preventive measures special to the expressed about its potential impact on ing from fever, coughing and breathing be upon him) that his search eventually led him to year “for the elderly and those suffering MERS coronavirus”. the haj when millions of Muslims head to difficulties. But it differs in that it also caus- Islam and to him becoming Muslim -alhamdullilah - chronic illnesses, like heart, kidney, respira- The kingdom is battling to contain the and from Saudi Arabia. es rapid kidney failure. — AFP (All Praise to God). Question: Do you have to stop loving Jesus 439,715 Kuwaitis eligible to vote (PBUH) to become Muslim? Morsi ‘may KUWAIT: Up to 439,715 citizens are eligible to vote in 118,461 (57,941 men and 60,520 women) which is Courtesy TIES Center, a leading non-political NGO the upcoming parliamentary elections which will be 28.03 percent of the overall electorates. promoting relations between Westerners and face trial’ held on the single-vote basis to choose members of Then came the Fourth Constituency with 108,395 Muslims through dialogue, friendship and cultural the 50-seat National Assembly. The number of the voters (48,525 men and 59,870 women) - 25.65 per- exchange. For more information. www.tiescenter.net CAIRO: Egypt’s public prosecutor’s office said yesterday enfranchised nationals in the five constituencies rose cent of the electorates. The First Constituency came it had received complaints accusing deposed President to 4.05 percent with 17, 146 more eligible voters third with 17.17 percent - 74,876 voters (34,783 men Mohamed Morsi and other senior leaders of his Muslim (9,342 males and 7,804 females) as compared to that and 40,093 women). The third district followed with Brotherhood of spying, inciting killings of protesters of elections of the December 2012. 17.29 percent - 73,065 voters (33,002 men and and damaging the economy. The prosecutor’s office The total number of male voters is now 206,096 40,063 women), while the Second Constituency said in a statement it was investigating the complaints (46.87 percent) while the total number of female vot- posted the lowest number of voters at 47,772 to prepare a file so that those accused could be ques- ers is 233,619 (53.12 percent). The Fifth Constituency (22,503 men and 25,269 women) which constitutes tioned. It did not say who had lodged the complaints. recorded the highest number of the voters with 11.30 percent. — KUNA Egypt’s legal system allows prosecutors to investi- gate complaints made by the police or by any member of the public. It can take days or months for formal charges to appear. Prosecutors rarely issue statements based on complaints before charges are filed. The state- ment named eight other Islamist figures including the Brotherhood’s top leader, Mohamed Badie, and the deputy leader of its political party Essam El-Erian, and said others had also been named. Morsi has been held incommunicado at an undis- closed location with since the military removed him from power on July 3. Badie and El-Erian are among senior Brotherhood officials that the authorities have already said are wanted over accusations they incited violence. The United States and other Western countries have urged the provisional authorities to release Morsi and to halt arrests of other Brotherhood leaders. The military says it was justified in removing Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, after millions of people marched against him. The Brotherhood has denounced what it calls a military coup. Meanwhile, Egypt’s new prime minister edged closer to forming a cabinet yesterday as supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi vowed to keep fight- ing for his reinstatement with further protests.