FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 18228 MUHARRAM 23, 1442 AH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 Woman shot dead in Mubarak New York marks 9/11 anniversary NBA Playoffs: Raptors 9 Hospital over ‘family disputes’ 14 amid coronavirus pandemic 38 claw back to force game 7 Confidence reaffirmed in two ministers See Page 8 2 Friday Local Friday, Sep[tember 11, 2020 Hello corona PHOTO OF THE DAY IN MY VIEW By Abdellatif Sharaa [email protected] t is clear that the country has opened up, and it seems that there is no turning back, that this situa- Ition will remain so and there is no other way about it. Kuwait was in virtual lockdown for over seven months and this had a tremendous impact on the economy, which was already under pressure due to the significant fluctuation of oil prices for various reasons. We, at this point, should ask ourselves when it comes to survival: is it for the strongest and toughest, or is it for those who are aware? We described the virus as the invisible ene- my and it remains so. It is still attacking, and will attack KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti man stops at a currency exchange shop in Kuwait City on September 7, 2020, a sector heavily affected you from any direction and at any time, while the sad by the COVID-19 pandemic which caused a sharp drop in travel and tourism. -— Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat thing is that you will not know it until it is too late. So, it is important to have awareness about how to behave and act in a way that helps us spare ourselves from being Despite glimmer of hope, Kuwait infected. We must first be examples for our families and encourage them to be cautious and turn healthy behav- still far from full gender equality ior into a habit to fight the coronavirus. Behaviors such as kissing and hugging when leaving the house or women don’t have the right to pass down their citizenship to returning home must be abandoned. Believe me, your IN MY VIEW their children. Under Kuwait’s citizenship law, only Kuwaiti men mother, father, sister, brother or children will not be can pass their citizenships to their children, whereas Kuwaiti angry at you when you do not kiss and hug them if they women married to non-Kuwaitis do not have the same right. This understand why, so do not carry on with this unneces- By Staff writer situation puts many Kuwaiti women who are married to non- sary act. Do the same outside in the street or at work. A Kuwaitis under a constant case of worry, knowing that their chil- [email protected] dren don’t have access to the same rights and opportunities as simple hello is more than enough, and your colleagues their peers who have Kuwaiti fathers. While the government understand that very well. Governments are now taking ight women took the legal oath of office before Chairman gives exceptions for children of Kuwaiti women such as educa- different approaches to the issue after giving abundant of Kuwait’s Supreme Judicial Council and the Cassation tion in public schools and priority in public sector employment advice and warnings for the public on a daily basis, to ECourt and President of the Constitutional Court Yousef Al- ahead of expatriates, these ‘advantages’ are far from enough to the point that I am sure many may have imagined the Mutawa last week on the occasion of their appointment as give a sense of security, neither to those who are tied to this land coronavirus as a real and tangible entity standing in judges at the Cassation Court. These are the first women to be by blood, nor to their mothers. front of them. sworn in as judges in Kuwait. In July, Attorney General Dirar Al- The issue of citizenship is a very sensitive topic in Kuwait, as it is considered a matter of sovereignty. There are many demo- I am afraid that cases may go up if we are not careful. Asousi had approved the promotion of the eight female prosecu- tors to the rank of judge. graphic, cultural, economic and other dimensions to consider For now, we are blessed by the grace of God that the That moment is without a doubt a monumental victory for when discussing the subject of granting citizenship to children of number of recoveries is good. But if we are not vigilant women’s rights in Kuwait, and a step forward in what still Kuwaiti women married to men who hold nationalities of other enough, hospital capacities may not be able to handle a remains a long road for Kuwait to achieve gender equality, and countries. But discussion over giving children of Kuwaiti women large number of cases. By the way, if you feel any symp- allow Kuwaiti women to enjoy equal rights with their male the right to citizenship should not focus on or merely be limited toms or have any doubts, it is much better to stay home counterparts. to talking about them having access to the privileges that comes Kuwait’s history is rich in examples where women shouldered with nationality. Instead, discussion should start with equality and keep away from others just to keep everyone on the and their naturalization as a human right, as well as giving a real safe side. the responsibility of building their country with men; far too many for one article to contain. The government has made efforts chance to this important category of society to work, contribute, I must say here that heads of departments, company since Kuwait’s independence to provide equal opportunities for be fully integrated with and give back to the only country they’ve owners, managers and supervisors must be strict in male and female citizens in the education and job market fields, called home - something that seems even more relevant today implementing procedures because the appearance of and has largely been successful in terms of providing public edu- when the government is aggressively pushing forward its even one case will mean the place will be closed down cation and jobs for all regardless of gender. ‘Kuwaitization’ policy. for a few days, and this may be very costly. Employees The same cannot be said about providing equal rights to citi- The names of the eight women judges; Fatima Al-Sagheer, zens irrespective of gender, however. In fact, Kuwaiti women had Fatima Al-Kandari, Sanabel Al-Houti, Fatima Al-Farhan, Bashair must not be selfish and think about all those around Shah, Bashaer Al-Rakdan, Rawaat Al-Tabtabae, and Lulwa Al- them, and about the entire community because it takes to wait until 2005 to have the right to vote; 44 years after Kuwait’s independence and 43 years since the country’s first par- Ghanim are forever etched in Kuwait’s history, marking an impor- only one person to transmit the disease to many others. liamentary elections. In a more recent example, the health min- tant point in Kuwaiti women’s march towards equality. Their Yes, remind your brothers in humanity to wear their istry announced last week allowing women to approve urgent achievement gives hope to female law practitioners around masks, and it is not a bad behavior to extend your elbow medical intervention for their children, after the parliament Kuwait who until recently feared that no matter how much they to a person who wants to shake hands with you! The passed a law in that regard late August. But before being passed, proved their worth, they could never be put on equal grounds the draft law had to be amended to exclude wives from having with their male peers. Likewise, Kuwaiti mothers should never solution is in front of us and with us, so let us be smart have to worry about the fate of their children while their male and help make ‘corona’ and its sisters something of the the right to approve urgent medical intervention for their hus- bands, as originally proposed. One of the main obstacles in counterparts don’t have to feel the same. Until that situation is past. May God protect you all. women’s road towards equality remains in the fact that Kuwaiti rectified, Kuwait remains far from achieving full gender equality. 4 Friday Local Friday, September 11, 2020 By Ben Garcia agement has decided to reduce the number of temperature of everyone entering the market. stalls inside the market of up to 50 percent only. Unlike the normal market days at Friday Market, he Friday Market in Al-Rai reopened yester- The huge space inside the market and the dis- only two entry and exit points are opened for Tday and unlike the brief reopening on July tance between stores to the next are evident. The customers. The remaining eight gates of the mar- 9, which only lasted for few hours because entry point or gate is being closely monitored in ket are closed. of over-crowding, this time however, the man- an air-conditioned tent by cameras to check the Friday 5 Local Friday, September 11, 2020 Promis, a Bangladeshi vendor, confirmed that agreed to sell our goods together in one store the market as a precautionary measure to stop the management is now strictly observing health and we agreed to alternate during the next three the spread of COVID-19. The reopening of the protocols inside the market. “We have our own days. I will stay in the store one day, and on the market yesterday means new measures have gate pass to enter or leave the premises,” he next day, he will come and attend the store.