Min 33º Max 48º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16981 - Friday, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 The ongoing G20 offers Putin Raonic crashes as practice of secret last stab roof shuts marriages in3 Kuwait at Obama10 on US44 Open See Page 9 Local FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 Local Spotlight PHOTO OF THE DAY Rent cheaters By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] ent cheating is a new form of deception in Kuwait. Today’s story is not new to me, as I Rhave heard about it many times before, except this seems to be the worst. When you fall victim to rent cheaters, you can end in jail, while they can take your money and sell your furniture too. Guess what? If you thought you can leave the country, you can’t, because your name will be on the travel ban list until you settle this matter. It is a pain that no one wishes to deal with, but some expats fall into this trap. My article today may end with an advice, but it is your choice not to trust or deal with rent cheaters. This letter is from a family that is confronting this nightmare now. They are facing a serious problem if no action is taken by them. Let me explain how this family fell a victim to a rent cheater. The family of four persons rented a flat in Salmiya four months ago. The haris told them the rent is KD 200 inclusive of water and electricity, plus KD 10 for himself (for cleaning) and KD 200 down payment, Rent was due by the 5th of every month. This arrangement seemed suitable to them, and the first three months passed by as agreed. But recently, they received KUWAIT: Masque from a modern Kuwaiti theatre production. — Photo by KUNA/Ghazy Gafaf a request to pay KD 50 extra for six months for electricity. In my view which will be returned when leaving the flat. Rent was due by the 5th of every month. This arrange- A Thinly Veiled Sideswipe ment seemed suitable to them, and the first three months passed by as agreed. But recently, they received a request to pay KD 50 extra for six months for electricity. The family did not expect this, When she was younger, he informed her, menacingly, that because these services were included in the rent By Nejoud Al-Yagout that was agreed by all. she would not be allowed to go to school if she did not wear it. And so she wore it. This is the same father who took away The family declined to pay, but the haris didn’t all her books, years later, and burned them because he feared take no for an answer. Moreover, he began to knock that too much reading would lead her away from faith. at the door at night, even at 1:00 am, asking for rent (Ironically, he led her away from faith, because of his antago- from the 24th of every month, threatening that if the [email protected] nism in the name of it). What he didn’t know, and doesn’t family doesn’t pay up, they will have to pay KD 400 know, for that matter, is that nobody can ever impose faith on in rent. here are many of you out there who choose to wear the another human being. What he doesn’t know is that his The family wondered over why they should pay veil*, and I respect your choice. I honor your commit- daughter - like many, many other girls - removes the veil KD 400 as the rent is only KD 210! The answer came Tment . I know that many of you wear it with pride. You when she goes out or travels. She feels free knowing that her quickly - the contract was prepared with KD 400 as have found immense peace in your decision. father can never change the way she feels on the inside. But, rent and not KD 200 as this family were told and But, there are also many of you out there who are forced to she feels immense anguish leading a double life and is envi- used to pay. This family didn’t notice that when they wear it, and I am speaking on behalf of you. I want you to ous of fellow females of her community, who share the cul- paid KD 200 as rent every month, they were given a know that I, like many others, feel your pain. Immensely. Your ture of her father, yet are given the choice by their parents on receipt of KD 400. So, legally, the crooked owner can relatives may think it is merely a tiny piece of cloth and you whether or not to veil (even if their mothers are veiled). She is claim extra money any time and can submit these shouldn’t be so emotional about it; but you know - yes you also tormented because she lives in Kuwait, a country where receipts in court. know - that being forced to wear it symbolizes far more than the government gives her the freedom to roam without a veil The family considered going to the police, but that. It means that you have to practice your faith in a way if she chooses, but she cannot exercise this right. they were scared they could face more troubles. The that contradicts your personal views. It breaks my heart to see We, here on planet Earth, interfere all the time. We make life a living hell for others. Every day is Judgment Day. We building is run by a real estate company, so they are you struggle because someone else made such a life-altering decision for you. And it breaks my heart a little more knowing have forgotten that heaven exists, too, in this world of polari- responsible for the tenants. I certainly believe this ties. The game would be different here, if only we remem- family needs legal assistance immediately, and the that some of you have to take pills for depression because you feel repressed. People - outside the realm of your prison - tell bered. We would reward people with the power of choice, the police can always help them in case of harassment power of freedom, instead of punishing them for not adher- and violations. No one should accept to be threat- you to remove it, to not be so weak; but, the fabric of society is a thin one, and removing it would most likely tear your family ing to our ways. This coercion to adhere has made hypocrites ened by others. into shreds. You know this. You fear this. This might seem of all of us. In this way, we are all wearing veils, albeit in differ- A final tip: Please read and understand what you highly dramatic, almost unfathomable, to someone who is ent ways. are agreeing and signing on. Ask for a copy in not a member of this community; but, this is, in fact, the case. English and your native language if possible. Don’t Last year, a good friend of mine told me that if she •In this article, the word veil is interchangeable with hijab, niqab, put your name on something you can’t understand. removed the veil, her father would never speak to her again. abaya or any other form of ideologically-imposed outerwear FRIDAY 02 SEPTEMBER 2016 Shush.... The ongoing practice of secret marriages in Kuwait By Faten Omar She said with tears that she was steeped in debt, had no job, marry. In this case, a woman opts for a husband who is not able no money for school fees and no new shoes for her son. “I had to to fulfill normal marital duties. nyone born into a typical Muslim family cannot avoid marry him. He is a good, rich man, and was kind to me, so I N S, a 36-year-old woman, considers that marrying such a the central place that marriage occupies within the con- agreed to marry him in secret.” After getting married by a husband is better than remaining unmarried. “Being a spinster in Acept of a good Muslim lifestyle. Popular Muslim culture licensed sheikh but with no contract in court, her life changed for Kuwaiti society means that you are sentenced to death,” she rea- invests marriage with such religious significance, that it is often the better. “I now have a decent job at the Ministry of Awqaf, a soned. She said that she got married secretly to a Kuwaiti with described as comprising “half of all religion”. On the other big apartment for me and my son, and I even have a maid, so no four children. “Misyar, as they call it, was my only way to get a hand, getting married nowadays is not easy, thanks to count- more doing the chores,” she said with a smile. husband.” less social and economic obstacles, including extortionate N S is furious with Arab societies and how they force a woman dowries, costly wedding extravaganzas and lack of housing. Urfi Marriage to get married even if she is happy with her single lifestyle. “My Marriages held in secret are frowned upon in Islam, and One type of secret marriages is “Urfi”. This form of marriage family forced me. Every day they told me the popular saying, that some types of such unions may even be considered haram, does not require witnesses, and is not registered with state ‘a shadow of a man is better than a shadow of a wall’. To me it despite being prevalent in conservative Arab societies where authorities.