Lebanese Shiites FEAR Expulsion from Gulf

SUBSCRIPTION SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 SHAABAN 13, 1434 AH No: 15847 Zain Kuwait Guard kills Jewish Heat beat Spurs celebrates 30 man in Jerusalem to win second wonderful5 years over ‘Allahu8 Akbar’ title48 in a row Lebanese Shiites fear expulsion from Gulf Max 45º 150 Fils Qatar deports 18 over Hezbollah row Min 30º DUBAI: Lebanese Shiites working in the Gulf fear indiscrimi- nate deportations by authorities in the Sunni-ruled monar- chies infuriated by Hezbollah’s military support for the Syrian regime against rebels. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) recently warned that it will take measures against members of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah in the region. It said it could hit their “residency permits, and financial and com- mercial transactions”. Following the warning, 18 Lebanese were expelled from Qatar, a Lebanese government source told AFP on Thursday. Despite assurances that the measures will target Hezbollah only, many Shiites who have lived and worked in the Gulf for many years fear the punishment might hit across the board, based on their religious affiliation, even if they disagreed with Hezbollah. Other non-Shiite groups, even Christians, who could be associated with the group also fear they could be targeted. An estimated 360,000 Lebanese work in the Gulf, according to Lebanese daily An-Nahar, transferring some $4 billion annually back to the country, which has a population of just 4.1 million. Besides the 18 deported from Qatar, Lebanese media reports have talked of “dozens” of the country’s citizens forced to leave the gas-rich Gulf state. And the Lebanese community in Saudi Arabia said at least 10 people, not all Shiite, have been targeted. Lebanon’s embassies in the Gulf have CAIRO: Egyptian Islamist groups led by the ruling Muslim Brotherhood take part in a demonstration yesterday to begun to investigate reports of deportations, media reports mark the upcoming one year anniversary since President Mohamed Morsi (portrait) was elected. — AFP on Thursday said. Ali, a Lebanese Shiite living in Qatar, describes himself as secular, but is worried that the measures will target people with no links to Hezbollah. “As a Shiite, I Huge crowd rallies for Morsi came here because of the bad situation in my country. I ran away because Hezbollah is holding a grip on my community,” CAIRO: Tens of thousands of Islamist supporters of Egyptian some in yesterday’s crowd - mostly men, with a few heavily veiled he said. He added that Gulf states might be justified in being President Mohamed Morsi gathered in Cairo after Friday prayers to women - chanted for “A purge of the judiciary!” and “A purge of the wary of some people, but hoped that this fear would not show support for the elected head of state before protests that his media!” There was no trouble evident in Cairo, where people affect others. “Not all Shiites are Hezbollah supporters,” Ali opponents hope can force him from office. Crowds converged on a packed streets for hundreds of metres around the rallying point at said. mosque in the suburb of Nasr City, many waving the national flag, the mosque; there were scuffles in Alexandria when Morsi support- A staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, some carrying pictures of the bearded president, in what is intend- ers and opponents faced off briefly in Egypt’s second city. Hezbollah has backed him since protests erupted in March ed to demonstrate the Islamists’ strength of numbers ahead of the In Cairo, Brotherhood members armed with green staves said 2011. But it openly declared its involvement in the war against opposition rallies set for June 30, the first anniversary of Morsi’s they were ready to protect demonstrators from “thugs”. “The other the mainly Sunni rebels last month, and spearheaded a 17-day inauguration. “Yes to respecting the will of the people!” read some side will take this as an excuse for anarchy,” said one man on guard, assault to recapture the insurgent stronghold of Qusair near banners. “There are people seeking a coup against the lawful 26-year-old preacher Amr Hamam, pointing to dozens of injuries in the border with Lebanon. The GCC, which backs the rebels, order,” said demonstrator Gaber Nader, 22, his head protected from scuffles across Egypt in the past week. warned it might add Hezbollah to its list of terrorist groups, the burning sun by a green banner from Morsi’s Muslim Yesterday’s rally was held close to the spot where Islamists and, in an unprecedented statement said it will target its Brotherhood, the movement whose organisational strength has gunned down Mubarak’s predecessor Anwar Sadat in 1981. The members living in the region. won it successive elections since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in Brotherhood had by that time renounced violence but suffered in a Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said last week that his 2011. “Dr Morsi won in free and fair elections like in any state in the crackdown after Sadat died, as did hardliners from al-Gamaa al- movement did not have members in the area. “There are no world,” Nader said, shrugging off concerns among the less well Islamiya, which was involved in the assassination. Unable, or unwill- Hezbollah members in the Gulf,” he said, insisting that his organised opposition that the Brotherhood is aiming for a monop- ing, to draw more liberal figures into his administration, and losing Iran-bankrolled party is “willing to bear the consequences of oly of power and to install Islamic rule and social order. “Secular par- the full support of the conservative Salafi Islamist Nour party, Morsi ties are eating the democracy God gave them.” has turned to more radical groups for backing - notably to Gamaa the decision” to intervene in Syria. “Does that mean that he Morsi’s opponents say they have gathered about 15 million sig- al-Islamiya, one of whose members he made governor of the tourist will pay me the equivalent of the income I earn here if I get natures - more than the 13 million votes that elected Morsi a year town of Luxor this week. Yesterday, dozens of Gamaa al-Islamiya deported?” asked one UAE-based Shiite expat who rejects ago - on a petition calling on him to step down; they say new elec- supporters joined the rally for Morsi. Waving their party banner, Hezbollah involvement in Syria. tions could end the paralysing polarisation of society, though no men chanted their demand for the imposition of Islamic law and The criteria used by the Gulf states to identify someone as obvious leader has emerged to build consensus. Morsi’s opponents rejection of “liberal violence”: “The people want God’s law,” they a member of Hezbollah have caused concern among Shiites have attracted support from many Egyptians who are less politically repeated. One woman, in black veil and green Islamic headband, living in the region. Such fears hit hardest when people apply engaged but exasperated by economic stagnation under the said she feared the removal of Morsi would return Egypt to the to renew their residency permits. “The residency permits of Islamists. army rule under which her son was tortured: “They destroyed his dozens of Lebanese were not renewed” even before the GCC’s Supporters of the Brotherhood feel their electoral success is mind,” Zeinab Abdullah, 54, said. Such fears among Islamists have latest move, a Lebanese official in Beirut said on condition of under siege from unelected institutions and vested interests rooted led some to warn of civil war if the generals who oversaw the transi- anonymity. “We shall not spare any effort to convince the GCC in the Mubarak era, when their party was banned. Reflecting this, tion from Mubarak to elections move against Morsi. — Reuters to reverse its decision,” the official said. — AFP LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 KUWAIT: Officials at the Mahboula market during the raid. 45 arrested in Mahboula market raid By Hanan Al-Saadoun subsidized food items were sold. The cam- Major Salman Al-Mutairi. ing 35 vendors who were engaged in trad- paign was carried out at the direct instruc- Fifteen policemen in sports attire ing without proper licenses or identifica- KUWAIT: Ahmadi governorate security offi- tions of Acting Security Director Ahmadi entered the market first to ensure that the tion papers. cials carried out an inspection campaign in governorate Brig Maatooq Al-Aslawi and vendors were in the market. They signaled They were sent to authorities concerned a crowded marketplace in Al-Mahboula under the supervision of the Operations their colleagues waiting outside to enter for further action. The municipality confis- area where vegetables, textiles, perfumes, Director Lt Colonel Faleh Al-Hatteeli Al- the market. Then, ten policemen entered cated the clothing and vegetables that electrical goods, fish, military uniforms and Dawsari and Patrols Department head the market and arrested 45 people includ- were on sale. Gen Ali devises plan to Hunt for citizen who curb driving licenses KUWAIT: Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs Lt General tried to shoot sister Abdul Fattah Al-Ali is considering a way to put a limit to play- ing around the ministerial decision that allows certain sectors to obtain driving licenses. Asian found hanging in Fahaheel flat Sources said that out of the choices on the table which could be applied after the approval of First Deputy Prime KUWAIT: Police are looking to that he cannot remember the body was taken to the forensic Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud is to arrest a man who faces attempted details of hundreds of transactions department after criminal investi- limit signing authority for learning licenses to the Assistant murder charges pressed by a family he finalizes every day.

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