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The importance Hungary blasts Nationals end of art in EU amid refugee with 4-3 win education4 chaos10 at station at Cardinals44 Min 30º Max 44º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16630- Friday, September 4, 2015 Diplomatic row over Iran-linked terror cell Page 2 Local FRIDAY, SEOTEMBER 4, 2015 Foreign Ministry slams Iranian embassy over public statements on Iran-linked terror cell ‘Families claim detainees have been tortured’ By Mesha’al Al Enezi & B Izzak KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry hit back at the Iranian embassy in Kuwait yesterday after the embassy issued a press statement criticizing the government for its handling of information sur- rounding the uncover of alleged Iran-linked ter- ror cell. In a statement published on its website yester- day afternoon, the Foreign Ministry said that the Iranian action violated diplomatic norms, “a coun- try’s wish to officially access information concern- ing certain issues should be done through proper channels,” it noted in reference to an earlier state- ment issued by the Iranian Embassy in Kuwait. The Foreign Ministry said that the Iranian embassy’s statement to the media “disregarded Kuwait’s declared official attitude towards this particular case in the form of the highly responsi- ble statement issued by the Cabinet, which was keen not to jump to conclusions before the hon- est Kuwaiti judiciary made its final judgment in the related case.” Iranian embassy statement Earlier in the day, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Kuwait sent a statement to all Kuwait media “expressing dissatisfaction with what it described as pushing Iran into a Kuwaiti domestic concern.” The embassy statement stressed that since the case details, including the alleged arrest of an Iranian citizen, were not yet announced and since KUWAIT: These images released by the Interior Ministry on Aug 13, 2015 shows a cache of weapons, explosives and ammunition local media dealt with the whole issue without found at a farm in Abdaly. notifying official Iranian bodies through proper diplomatic channels, the embassy would, there- of being members with Hezbollah and others of they saw evidence of torture when they visited diplomatic ties with Iran while MP Mubarak Al- by, point the following: receiving training on the use of weapons and the men at Kuwait Central Prison. They claim to Harees renewed calls for classifying Hezbollah as 1. The embassy was not, so far, notified about the ammunition to carry out the attacks. have seen evidence of electrocution on the men’s a terrorist organization. identity of the allegedly arrested Iranian, as On August 13, the Interior Ministry arrested bodies. They also noticed burns, said the men MP Hamdan also called for reducing the num- per the public prosecution statement, his three citizens after uncovering a huge arms cache claim to have been hung upside down, beaten, ber of Iranians in Kuwait gradually to stop their alleged role in the charges pressed against at farmhouses in Al-Abdali near the border with threatened that their wives and sisters would be recruitment. Around 50,000-60,000 Iranians live him nor the details of his arrest. Thus, the Iraq. The cache included 19,000 kg of ammuni- raped and dragged on the ground. The families and work in Kuwait. embassy urges Kuwaiti authorities to officially tion, 144 kg of explosives, 68 weapons, and 204 also said their sons were denied access to The lawmaker also called for working to classi- notify it with any related information and grenades were seized from three properties near lawyers. fy Hezbollah as a terrorist organization on gulf, facilitate contact with the accused. the Iraqi border, the Interior Ministry said. “Such practices against detainees violate the Arab, Islamic and international levels in coordina- 2. The Islamic Republic of Iran express deep Additional arrests were made and houses UN’s Convention Against Torture, the simplest tion with other partners in the Gulf Cooperation regrets that some Kuwaiti media continue to searched in Adan and other areas. Human rights and Kuwait’s citizenship right, Council (GCC) states. negatively affect both countries’ bilateral rela- A trial of the suspected terror cell will start which calls for immediate action and dispatching Hamdan said that if the weapons seized with tion through accusing Iran with false accusa- September 15. Several lawmakers this week a UNCHR envoy to visit the detainees and investi- the cell were allowed to spread in Kuwait, it tions that have not so far been verified by the called for a downgrading of diplomatic ties with gate reports about torturing them by security would have turned the country into another judiciary. Iran and the labeling of the Lebanese militia and state security forces, medically examine Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya. He urged the interi- 3. Kuwaiti-Iranian relations cannot take such Hezbollah as a terrorist organization in response them by forensic medicine, urge the Kuwaiti gov- or ministry to follow up with the sympathizers of accusations, the Islamic Republic of Iran does to the discovery of the cell. ernment to respect prisoners’ treatment princi- Hezbollah in Kuwait and forms a committee to stress its keenness on the security of the Gulf ples and rights and not to fabricate accusations initiate dialogue with them. region’ states and on constructively working Families of those arrested against them”, Safa added. MP Hamdan however insisted that not all on enhancing regional security and stability. Meanwhile, families of those arrested filed a Kuwaiti Shiites should be blamed for what the The statements came a day after Kuwait’s complaint to the United Nations through the Lawmakers react cell has done. MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji rejected public prosecution charged 24 men for spying for Khiam Rehabilitation Center for victims of torture Kuwaiti MPs however continued their strong what he described as the provocative statement Iran and Hezbollah and plotting “aggressive acts” (KRC), said its chair, Mohammed Safa. criticism of Iran with Islamist MP Humoud Al- by the Iranian embassy, saying its content was against Kuwait. It also accused a number of them Quoting the detainees’ families, Safa said that Hamdan calling on the government to cut off away from diplomacy. Local FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 The importance of art in education By Nawara Fattahova KT: In this highly technology-drive age, what are the challenges you face in teach- KUWAIT: Maha Al-Essa, is a young Kuwaiti ing art? designer, artist and fashion/lifestyle blogger Al-Essa: The challenge is to develop a dif- who expresses herself and her passion for ferent lesson for each class that is relevant to teaching young minds through art. As a the students and can satisfy all the teaching docent and educator at the Dar al-Athar al- objectives. Actually this is what makes the Islamiyyah, she teaches children creativity class interesting, we always explore new and critical thinking skills along with knowl- ideas. In this way the development takes edge on color, shapes and lines. place on both ends, the student’s and the In a conversation with Kuwait Times, Ms instructor making the program alive, grow- Al-Essa, also known as ‘MeemAlEssa’ on ing organically with the student’s progres- Instagram discusses the role of art in chil- sion. dren’s education, the methods she employs to engage children in the process of art and KT: Are you satisfied with the results? thinking about art and the challenges she Al-Essa: Yes I’m satisfied with the results, faces as an educator in Kuwait. children are engaged and responsive to the topics discussed, each and every one of KT: Explain the focus of your workshops. them is able to produce a unique result as Al-Essa: I provide art workshops for chil- well as developing other skills like critical dren to introduce concepts, vocabulary, and thinking and presentation. Through the techniques through the use of art to devel- workshops they are encouraged to invest in op ideas, creativity and problem solving the thought process by answering specially skills while exploring concepts and utilizing designed questions, delivering arguments the knowledge in creating a variety of and defending their developed ideas. applied art projects that are part of everyday The challenge is to develop a different lesson life. KT: Where do you provide your lessons or for each class that is relevant to the students classes? KT: Which students do you teach? And in Al-Essa: I provide classes with two organ- which languages? and can satisfy all the teaching objectives... izations, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah and Al-Essa: Primarily classes are designed to Nuqat. With Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah the teach about artists, styles and techniques, the development takes place on both ends, workshop starts on October 3, every but the way lessons are executed there is Saturday at Amricani Cultural Center also emphasis on history, analysis, problem the student’s and the instructor making the throughout the cultural season till May 2016. solving and creativity. The workshops are With Nuqat the workshops are subject designed for students from ages 6 to 12. I program alive, growing organically. specific, currently providing Art in Practice teach in both Arabic and English. workshop at Studio Almakan and will be announcing soon the workshops schedule Local FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 for the next cultural season through Nuqat website www.nuqat.me KT: How did you get interested in art? What is your background? Al-Essa: I’ve studied Industrial and Management System Engineering, Masters in Strategic Business Administration and various art courses and specialized education pro- grams, with a focus on Museum Based Education and Interactive strategies for engaging with art through Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).