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FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 17637 MUHARRAM 11, 1440 AH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 Domestic workers’ rights ‘Parents’ worst nightmare’: Dutch Russian athletes to return 7 discussed in Niqashna debate 12 railway collision kills four children 44 to competition; ban lifted NEW YORK: A generic photo taken during a video game tournament in Long Island City, New York. The picture was used for illustrative purposes only. — AFP Gaming industry in Kuwait: Possibility or pipe-dream? See Pages 3 2 Friday Local Friday, September 21, 2018 We are not weak figurines from stereoscopic images. Some people were change people’s religion and beliefs. I am really surprised Local Spotlight angered and labeled them as “idols”. by the extremism that some people have here. Frankly, I do There have been several opinions about the matter. not see such models having a potential spiritual effect, and Some said it is a devilish way to deprive people from Islam concerns of idolatry are mere speculations. Moreover, if and lead them away from worshiping Allah and towards this topic wasn’t on social media, not many people would By Muna Al-Fuzai becoming infidels. Others expressed concern over the pos- even think about it. But in Kuwait as usual, every week sibility of its effects on people, if not now, then maybe in a there is a new controversy on social media. [email protected] few years’ time. This subject was not important to me, but what both- Some people including MP Ahmad Al-Fadhl clearly stat- ered me was the attempt by some to emphasize that such ed that it is trivial to even consider or assume that anyone figurines will lead to idolatry. Why are we Muslims por- new print shop for manufacturing and selling high- would change their religion due to a colorful figurine. He trayed as weak in our faith? Who will change our religion tech figurines caused a ruckus in Kuwait between promised to take a “serious stand in the parliament” to stop just for the sake of a statue? We travel to many countries AIslamist activists and liberals. Some called it “the what he called a “vicious attack” on the products of the around the world and may happen to stay in a hotel that manufacturing of idols”, over which there is a dispute company, pointing out that ignorance is leading some mem- has a bar or casino, for example. Does this mean that you between scholars on its permissibility. Messages were bers of the Municipal Council and the National Assembly to will rush to it just because of its presence there? It is extensively circulated on social media following a report such actions. unfortunate that some insist on portraying Muslims as hav- about a shop in Kuwait that made high-tech 3-D human I wonder why some people think that such items could ing no logic and no minds… Book bans and the challenge for activists By Ahmad Jabr KUWAIT: Activists gathered at Kuwait’s early a hundred activists and book enthusiasts gath- Irada Square on September 15 to ered recently in Kuwait City to protest the govern- protest censorship and the banning of Nment’s ‘strict censorship’ that has reportedly resulted books in KuwaIt. It was the second in the banning of around 4,000 books from entering Kuwait protest in two weeks. between 2003 and 2007. The protesters’ demands were clear: — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat the government must respect the readers’ right to choose the books they want to read, and stop playing the role of a guardian who decides what kind of publications that the public should or should not have access to. Held at the iconic Irada Square that is situated just outside the National Assembly, the gathering was meant to send a message to lawmakers that they needed to act in order to pro- tect citizens’ rights. Perhaps to the surprise of few, the protest generated little to no reaction from the elected parliament. The government usually bans books that contain material deemed offensive or controversial, or discuss sensitive subjects that might entice public outcry, or worse, instigation. There is a special department at the Ministry of Information where staff members review publications pending entrance to Kuwait, and decide which books match the requirements and those that do not. In some cases, books are banned after MPs exert pressure on the Information Ministry, often forcing the minister to make a politically-motivated decision to order ministry officials to ban a publication, thus avoiding parliamentary criticism. The ban process follows a criteria set by rules and laws that were mostly prepared and passed in the National Assembly. While it is normal for politicians in the government or par- memorize the information handed over to them, and regurgi- Article 7 of law number 3 for the year 2006 on press and pub- liament to make politically-motivated decisions, the relatively tate memorized information during test time. lications states that “it shall be permitted to enter, circulate, or lackluster public response to the protest is what the organizers No surprise that students educated in this system fail to sell the prints that are imported from abroad after obtaining and freedom of choice advocates should really be alarmed by. value reading or understand its benefits. permission from the competent ministry and after checking At least compared to other topics of public interest such as Perhaps protestors should shift their focus to calling for an their contents regarding the prohibited contents in accordance demands for creating more public sector jobs for unemployed overhaul of Kuwait’s education system and integrating more with the articles stipulated under section three of this law.” citizens, granting more financial privileges and reducing the flexible curricula that encourage students to seek knowledge Subjects banned under section three include criticizing the retirement age, the call for more intellectual freedom remains through reading and research. While calls for developing edu- Amir, insulting religious figures and insulting public morals or further down the list of public priorities in Kuwait. cation are not new in Kuwait, most of the demands and subse- instigating to violate the public order. There are many factors that make this sad truth a reality, quent governmental action have so far been focused on The Information Ministry bans books for a variety of rea- perhaps the most glaring of which is the lack of curricula in the improving school infrastructure and quality of teachers hired sons, some social and cultural and others political. It may take education system that encourage a student to read and do from abroad. And while those two factors are important, they a preemptive decision, banning a book it deems unacceptable proper research. In most cases, a student in Kuwait is only pale in comparison to the curricula itself which has generally to avoid scrutiny or controversy. required to ‘memorize’ the information mentioned in their text- remained unchained for generations. It may also ban a previously allowed book after public out- books which are provided by the Ministry of Education. In Achieving an overhaul of such magnitude is not easy, and it cry or parliamentary inquiry. For example, Islamist MP Dr class, a teacher is required and expected to provide an expla- is a process that surely requires a lot of time, effort and Waleed Al-Tabtabei questioned the ministry over the Arabic nation only for the information mentioned in the textbook. A patience. But once that change in educational system is novel ‘Subartu’ by novelist Abdulhalim Yousef which was ini- teacher is obliged to strictly follow the curriculum, otherwise achieved, there will be more people who demand more reading tially allowed into Kuwait. Following this questioning, the they can risk facing criticism or even punishment for ‘going freedoms. Eventually, their voices will grow stronger, at which Information Ministry investigated the book and ultimately outside the textbook’, even in simple cases such as asking stu- point politicians will have no other choice but to listen. banned it, because as Information Minister Mohammad Al- dents to do online research regarding a certain topic. Until then, activists can stage as many sit-ins and protests Jabri said, the book “contained words and suggestions that are Throughout their entire educational process, students in the as they want, yet decision-makers will have limited interest in a contrary to Islamic teachings and public morals.” Arabic system - both public and private - are required to cause so sparsely supported. Friday 3 L o c a l Friday, September 21, 2018 Gaming industry in Kuwait: Possibility or pipe-dream? By Aakash Bakaya come more than just a consumer of gaming and actually take the reins of f you were to tell me 10 years ago game development? that Poland would be the home of For that to realistically happen, you Ione of the most critically-acclaimed would obviously need investment. games of the decade and the most an- Kuwait has lagged behind other coun- ticipated game of the last five years, I tries in the region when it comes to sta- would have laughed. Today both are a ble investment in other artistic fields like reality. For the uninitiated, I’m talking film, for example. But unlike film, I would about ‘The Witcher 3’ and the upcom- argue game development is much safer ing ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ from Polish game in terms of return on investment. Yes the studio CD Projekt Red. cost to publish and promote a game has A new trend that has shaped the steadily risen over the years but the gaming industry over the last few years channels to sell them have expanded is the growth of successful video game and diversified exponentially.

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