SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013 RAMADAN 16, 1434 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Queen meets Pakistan’s new In football-crazy Britain’s new hero Burka Iraq, pitches Emsak: 03:23 baby prince Avenger hit by attacks Fajer: 03:33 Dohr: 11:54 Asr: 15:30 Maghreb: 18:45 9 15 20 Eshaa: 20:12 Appeals Court disqualifies Max 47º Min 36º 3, reinstates 4 candidates High Tide 01:52 & 13:08 Interior mobilizes 11,000 security men; Prosecution frees 2 Low Tide 07:31 & 20:18 40 PAGES NO: 15880 150 FILS By B Izzak conspiracy theories KUWAIT: The Appeals Court yesterday reinstated four candidates and allowed them to run in the July 27 elec- Touched my heart tion after it overturned a decision by the Administrative Court to disqualify them. The original decision was issued by the Interior Ministry because the candidates did not fulfill conditions for running in election. The Appeals Court however upheld the Administrative Court’s ruling to disqualify three other By Badrya Darwish candidates. The same court rejected an appeal by candi- date Hani Hussein calling to stop the election on sus- pected procedural flaws, confirming perhaps for the last time before the election that the polls day remains [email protected] intact. In a related development, the Administrative Court is scheduled to issue today rulings on four election peti- esterday was the last day of girgian - a holi- tions challenging the candidacy of four candidates run- day that resembles the celebration of ning in the election. The petitions are against candi- YHalloween in the west when children collect dates Saud Sahoud, a well-known businessman under sweets going from house to house. As soon as I investigation on alleged vote-buying, and former mem- could hear the door bell ring, I rushed to open for bers of the scrapped Assembly Nabeel Al-Fadhl, the girls and boys wearing national costumes. The Abdulhameed Dashti and Khaled Al-Shatti. If the court girls were dressed in tiny dara’a with shiny head- accepts the petitions, the candidates will be barred cover carrying girgian bags on their shoulders. The from contesting but they can still have the right to chal- boys were dressed in dishdashas with golden rims. lenge the ruling before the Appeals Court. They were all wearing the traditional old style The public prosecution yesterday freed on bail two Arabic dress. KUWAIT: Supporters listen as Kuwaiti parliamentary candidate Rakan candidates after interrogating them on allegations of Our girgian always falls in the middle of the holy Al Nisif (inset) addresses a rally during his electoral campaign yester- buying votes. month of Ramadan when it is full moon. Then all day. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh Continued on Page 15 the paths in the villages would be well-lit from the moonlight. The custom goes like this: when the kids come to your doorstep before you give them sweets they should sing special lyrics for the occa- Back-story overshadows elections sion. The songs are usually in praise for the people of the house. They also ask God to bless the people KUWAIT: From boycotting ballots to the internal pressures on Kuwait’s Kuwait’s stability as a critical link in the polls three times (since February last in the house. Sometimes the kids ask what name storming parliament, each time Kuwait Western-backed ruling dynasty. The chal- Pentagon’s military array against nearby year). It’s humiliating.” you want to be mentioned in the song. Then they heads into parliamentary elections the lenges come from an emboldened oppo- Iran. Kuwait hosts thousands of US sol- Last December, there was an election go home with a bag full of goodies. back-story seems to overshadow the sition that includes groups ideologically diers in the largest deployment of boycott by an unusual alliance of We are lucky that we have preserved this special vote. Yet the revolving-door series of elec- linked to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood on American ground forces in the region. Islamists, tribal factions and Western-ori- tradition to this day, though many people try to tions could have an impact not only on the one hand, and on the other, liberals The main test is whether the election ented liberals. Before voting in February spoil it and modernize it by commercializing gir- this tiny, oil-rich state, but also on fellow angered by crackdowns such as prison outcome will restore credibility to a 2012, Arab Spring-inspired tensions had gian. They prepare expensive packages and send nations in the Gulf and the rest of the sentences over social media posts. political system that appears stuck in a grown so high that Kuwait’s ruler dis- them with messengers to their friends’ houses. This region. Gulf Arab partners are closely watch- cycle of disputes. “I think there is not banded parliament after opposition-led kills the spirit of girgian. Thank God, there are still For the election Saturday to pick a new ing the moves by Kuwait’s Islamists, con- much enthusiasm for the elections in protesters stormed the chamber. But families who have preserved the tradition and let 50-seat parliament - the most empow- sidered by the United Arab Emirates and general,” said Saad Bin Tefla, a Kuwaiti Kuwait represents the boldest Gulf children knock on doors to sing. The feeling is just ered elected political body in the Gulf - others as part of wider networks seek- professor and political analyst. experiment in permitting political influ- different. there might be another boycott, but the ing to bring down their pro-Western fra- “Counting the upcoming elections, the ence outside palace walls. Last night I was so happy to give sweets away to real question is whether the vote will ease ternity. Washington is deeply vested in people of Kuwait will have gone to the Continued on Page 15 the kids around me. I noticed that near the gate a cute boy about four-years-old was sitting on a wheel chair. He was looking at the kids dancing on Ramadan Kareem my doorstep. Suddenly my mood changed. I approached him and found myself out of words. I How to worship just rubbed his head with my hand and my tears started falling down. I didn’t want him to see my By Dr Teresa Lesher tears so I went away. I know you might think I am a silly woman. There he Quran states that God has created us to worship are sick children with disabilities all around us espe- Him. What is worship? How can people from every cially with the increasing number of wars around Ttime, every location and every manner of living real- us. But it is different when you face a child with dis- ize their purpose, the purpose of their creation, which is worship? The Quran tells us how to worship our Creator: abilities. I could still see his beautiful eyes and his With remembrance: “I have chosen you, so listen to what is curious look as I am writing my story. I can’t read revealed. I am God [alone]! There is no god but Me, so what is in his mind. That look is still in front of me. It serve Me and keep up prayer to remember Me by.” (20:14) touched the deepest of my heart. WITH GRATITUDE: “You who believe, eat any wholesome Maybe he was asking himself: “Why can’t I jump things We have provided you with, and thank God, if it is He and dance with the rest of my peers?” That is life. whom you serve.” (2:172) “He is the One Who has furnished We have to take it the way it comes. These are the you with hearing, sight and intellect; yet seldom are your moments when we should appreciate life and grateful.” (23:78) health and have more tolerance and patience to be WITH GLORIFICATION: “Have you not seen how every- better human beings and to try to do all we can to one in Heaven and Earth glorifies God, even to the birds help others and open our hearts for many people lined up in flight. Each knows its prayer and how to glorify on earth. Him. God is Aware of whatever they do.” (24:41) Girgian this year was a very different experience WITH SUPPLICATION: “God is the One Who has granted for me. you the Earth to settle down on, and the sky as a canopy, and has shaped you. He has made your shapes handsome KABUL: An Afghan man carries watermelons to break the day’s fast during the holy month of Ramadan in and provided you with wholesome things. Such is God, Bahrain policemen Kabul, Afghanistan. — AP your Lord; so blessed is God, Lord of the universe. He is the Living; there is no deity except Him, so appeal to Him sin- recapture inmates cerely, making religion exclusively His. Praise be to God, Egypt Islamists enraged Lord of the Universe!” (40: 64-65) DUBAI: Bahrain police said yesterday they recap- WITH OBEDIENCE: “Say, I have been forbidden to serve tured two men suspected of attacks on security those you appeal to instead of God, since clear proofs have forces, two months after they escaped from custody as army calls for rallies reached me from my Lord, and I have been ordered to com- along with other detainees. The pair, who were mit myself to obey the Lord of the Universe.” (40:66) arrested late Tuesday, were accused over “a number WITH LOVE: “Yet there are some people who adopt part- of terror acts,” including setting a car ablaze near the US halts delivery of F-16s to Egypt ners beside God whom they love just as they should love kingdom’s Formula One circuit, and detonating a car CAIRO: Egypt’s military chief yesterday called on his Morsi three weeks ago, the ousted president’s Islamist God.