N IO T IP R C S B U S THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 THULHIJJA 10, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net EID GREETINGS Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al- Alyan wishes HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Cabinet mem- bers, heads of states around the world, Kuwaitis, expatriates and our valued readers Eid Mubarak! Kuwait Times will not be published from Friday, Sept 25 to Sunday, Sept 27. Our next issue will be out on Monday, Sept 28, 2015. S L I F 0 5 1 Pilgrims throng Arafat 0 Min 26º 5 6 6 1 Max 44º : O N as hajj reaches climax High Tide 06:55 & 21:30 S E G Low Tide A P Faithful pray for peace on Mount Mercy 0 01:00 & 14:20 4 MOUNT ARAFAT: Around two million white-clad Muslims yesterday poured into the vast Saudi plain where Prophet Sisi pardons two Muhammad (PBUH) gave his final sermon, for the peak of the hajj pilgrimage. Many of the faithful from around the Jazeera journos globe camped at the foot of Mount Arafat where they slept, exhausted from their journey, and prayed despite CAIRO: Egypt’s president yesterday pardoned Al- the scorching sun. Carrying colorful umbrellas, they Jazeera’s jailed Canadian journalist Mohamed walked from dawn in massive crowds towards the slip- Fahmy and his colleague Baher Mohamed, who pery, rocky hill which is also known as Mount Mercy. were sentenced last month to three years in prison, Here Muhammad (PBUH) gave his final sermon 14 cen- the presidency said. A spokesman for President turies ago after leading his followers on hajj. To organize Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Alaa Youssef, told AFP the Al- the flow of pilgrims, security forces formed human chains Jazeera journalists were among a group of inmates along the roads of the vast Arafat plain. Along the way, pardoned, as state news agency MENA said the par- volunteers handed out boxes of food and cold water bot- don covered 100 prisoners, including women tles. For many pilgrims, hajj is the spiritual highlight of activists Sana Seif and Yara Sallam. their lives. “We feel blessed. I got goosebumps, a feeling Fahmy and Mohamed were sentenced in a retrial that cannot be explained, when reaching the top of the to three years in August for allegedly fabricating mountain,” said Ruhaima Emma, a 26-year-old Filipina pil- “false” news in support of the blacklisted Muslim grim, who said she has been “praying for a good life for Brotherhood movement, which the army removed everyone”. For Akram Ghannam, 45, from war-torn Syria, from power in 2013 and outlawed. Australian being in Arafat is a “feeling that cannot be described. I reporter Peter Greste was also convicted, although pray to God for the victory of all those who are he had been deported by presidential decree. It was oppressed.” not immediately clear if he was included in the par- Many reached Arafat by bus while some walked from don. Their detention and trial sparked global criti- the holy city of Makkah about 15 km away. Other pilgrims cism towards Sisi, who has said he wished the jour- arrived from nearby Mina using the elevated Mashair nalists had been deported from the outset rather Railway linking the holy sites of Arafat, Muzdalifah and than put on trial. Mina, a tent city where many pilgrims spent Tuesday Continued on Page 13 MAKKAH: A pilgrim reads the Holy Quran on a rocky hill called Mount Mercy on the plain of Arafat near this night. After sunset yesterday they moved to Muzdalifah. holy city yesterday. — AP Continued on Page 13 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 LOCAL Hajj mission’s teams attend Crown Prince receives to pilgrims at Mount Arafat Eid Al-Adha greetings KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad MECCA: The Kuwaiti Hajj mission’s teams started Kuwaiti pilgrims were completed. He added that 12th month of the Islamic calendar, and is an Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday a on carrying out their tasks at Mount Arafat since all teams of the Kuwaiti mission have taken their integral part of the pilgrimage of Hajj, the fifth cable from National Assembly Speaker dawn yesterday as they took their locations des- positions at Mount Arafat and were ready to pillar of Islam. Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem congratulating ignated to them by the Saudi authorities. The serve the Kuwaiti pilgrims. He praised the excel- Hajj officially began on Tuesday, on the 8th him on the advent of Eid Al-Adha. medical teams began assisting those in need lent services extended by the government of the day of Dhul Hijjah, when pilgrims from all over In his cable, Ghanem expressed his sin- through two separate clinics. Members of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to all pil- the world began travelling from the holy city of cere best wishes, good health, and prosper- Public Authority for Youth and Sport were seen grims. Makkah to Mina, which is roughly eight kilome- ity to His Highness the Deputy Amir and at the entrances and exits of the mission’s head- Muslims around the globe yesterday com- ters away. Crown Prince and to the people of Kuwait quarters organizing work. memorate the Day of Arafat, considered the Yesterday, after the dawn prayers in Mina, under the wisdom of His Highness the Amir Kuwaiti pilgrims had arrived to Mount Arafat most important day of Hajj during which pil- the pilgrims started their journey to Arafat, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. from Mina safely and in good conditions, Head grims gather on the desert planes of Arafat, near about 14 kilometers away. Muslims believe that His Highness sent a reply cable to National of the Kuwaiti Hajj Mission Khulaif Al-Utheinah Makkah, to pray to their Lord. the Day of Arafat is a day when ones’ sins can Assembly Speaker in which he expressed said, adding that all services rendered to the The day falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the be forgiven. —KUNA congratulations and best wishes and more prosperity for Kuwait, its people, Arab and Islamic nations. Meanwhile, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf sent a cable to the President of the Kuwait National Guard His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah and Sheikh Mubarak Al- His Highness the Deputy Amir and Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah congratulat- Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- ing them on the advent of Eid Al-Adha, ask- ing Allah Almighty to have many returns of Ahmad Al-Sabah this occasion and to bless the Kuwaiti peo- Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and First ple, wishing more prosperity to the State of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Kuwait under the wise leadership of His Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Sabah who congratulated His Highness on Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In turn, His Highness the advent of Eid Al-Adha expressing Sheikh Salem Al-Ali sent a cable to His appreciation to His Highness’ efforts Highness Sheikh Nawaf thanking him and throughout the years and his support in congratulating him on Eid Al-Adha. serving the country. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf also His Highness the Deputy Amir also received cables from senior Sheikhs, received congratulatory cables from min- Deputy President of the National Guard isters, governors and senior state officials Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- inside and outside Kuwait. In turn, His Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Highness the Deputy Amir thanked them Mohammad Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness all for their sincere wishes and senti- the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- ments. —KUNA The Kuwaiti Hajj mission’s headquarters. KUWAIT: Twenty-one officers from various Interior Ministry departments are performing hajj in trips paid by the ministry in appreciation to their hard work and dedication, the ministry’s Relations and Security Media Department announced in a statement. Photo of the day KUWAIT: A man checks on a sheep loaded on the bed of his pickup truck moments after he bought it from the livestock market in Rai ahead of Eid Al-Adha or ‘Feast of Sacrifice.’ —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 LOCAL Embassy told Filipinos: Don’t wait for amnesty, take advantage of AVRP Program ‘act of kindness’ on Kuwaiti government’s part By Ben Garcia anymore (at the immigration detention cen- show up in the airport on the day of their 3) Fingerprinting of TD holders. Applicants ter). So please take advantage of this pro- flights. So this time embassy personnel will will be asked to report to the embassy at KUWAIT: The Philippines Embassy in Kuwait gram, apply now if you are illegal and want be there to assist everyone and make sure the appointed schedule. The embassy will advised its nationals here to take advantage to go back home,” she said. that everyone in the list will be included or transport the group to the Immigration of the ‘Assisted Voluntary Repatriation Last week over 108 undocumented everyone will show up in the airport. We Office in Shuwaikh. Program’ (AVRP) which is being offered by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), mostly were told that one more no show case will 4) Release of fingerprinting result. The result the Kuwaiti government. The program is not runaway housemaids, were repatriated jeopardize the program and it will be will indicate the status of the applicant’s exclusive for runaway housemaids but it also (without detention) through AVRP in a char- stopped again,” she warned.