Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 17360 MUHARRAM 30, 1439 AH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017 The disappearance New-look UAE cabinet English FA bosses face calls 4 of 1980s Kuwait 8 named after reshuffle 46 to quit over Sampson affair MP calls to impose exit visas on expats See Page 7 2 Friday Local Friday, October 20, 2017 PHOTO OF THE DAY The problems with polygamy Local Spotlight By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] Polygamy can be found in Arab societies, and in other non-Islamic societies too. Regardless of the social and familial effects of this phenomenon, some men still prac- tice it and some women agree with it. But it remains con- troversial, and many women and men do not support the idea, although its debate is provocative for women and exciting for men! Polygamy raises the question: Can a married man who remarries be truly equitable and just to all his wives? Is he ever thinking of their welfare or only aiming to satisfy his desires? This article seeks to shed light over this case based on two incidents. Newspapers recently published a report A popular mural in Souq Al-Mubarakiya in Kuwait City. — Photo by Jaber Abdukhaleq / KUNA from Saudi Arabia that police arrested a woman who poured boiling oil on her husband after he married anoth- er woman. The husband appeared in a video wailing with selves, if we dare to self-reflect. But then I became sad again, pain after his entire back was scalded. The video circulat- because most of us do not self-reflect. We would much rather ed on social media and it was said that the attack was by Un(Social) media stay in our cocoons where our families and relatives reside. his first wife as a punishment. This incident caused a lot of What is upsetting though is that sometimes our families and controversy and created fear in some polygamous men. relatives are not aligned with love. The second incident happened a few days ago. I was watching a program on an Arabic channel, and the ques- Myanmar is just another example of ideological vindication: tion was asked to some women if they would accept their Vigilantes avenging the acts of a few. As Gandhi warned us husbands taking other wives. Most of the women refused though: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. We pray for the Rohingya Muslims who are being massacred and By Nejoud Al-Yagout forced into exile, but we also pray for all those from other reli- He will be cheered [email protected] gions who face the same fate at the hands of Muslims. We by other men who pray for all of us who are suffering, whether because of reli- Recently, a woman I know posted a photograph of a collapsed gion or not. fear the reaction Buddhist temple in Myanmar and she added a caption praising We do not only suffer for those who share our ideologies God. As a Muslim, she was so outraged by what is happening and skin color, but for all our brothers and sisters around the of their wives to the Rohingya, that she must have forgotten her innocent world who are hurting. If we are Muslims, let us stand up for Buddhist brothers and sisters - who have nothing to do with Christians. If we are Christians, let us stand up for Jews. If we the acts of fundamentalists - in her moments of fury. No are Buddhists, we can praise Sikhs. If we are Hindus, let us speak highly of Jains. If we are believers, let us speak highly of to answer directly, except for one old woman who said human being, regardless of whether they are Muslim or not, her husband had already remarried several times. can watch the persecution of the Rohingya without feeling those deemed unbelievers. Let us praise whom we deem the The problem here is that when a man wants to marry heartbroken; but, if we only support victims who share our other, until we realize there is no other. again, he typically raises the argument that Islam allows own religion, we are only perpetuating intolerance. Intolerance Side-note: I will not un-friend the lady who posted the polygamy, so he can marry four women without being pun- breeds phobia. Intolerance makes us gloat at the misery of messages of divisiveness, because I know she is a victim of ished by the law. He will be cheered by other men who fear others. When will we understand that a shared doctrine is not brainwashing, as we all are in varying degrees and in dif- the reaction of their wives. But these men don’t admit that a precursor to love - which is all-encompassing? ferent ways. Islam has set terms and conditions to the process and even Imagine a Buddhist showing a photograph of a desecrated reasons, especially as this entails risks and harm to women mosque and praising Buddha for punishing the Muslims who and their children and their future, in addition to the possi- live in that country for the act of extremists. People of all reli- bility of violation of their human and financial rights. The most prominent condition in Islam for polygamy is gions across the world are suffering and people of all religions the ability to do justice between the wives and their chil- (and no religion, for that matter) are inflicting suffering on oth- dren in terms of providing them with all equally with ade- ers. And though Muslims are being persecuted, many non- quate housing, provisions and all that they need, which is Muslims are being persecuted in the world, especially in almost impossible for many men today, who are struggling Muslim countries. And many of these non-Muslims are with loans, housing debts and schools fees, in addition to defending the plight of the Rohingya around the world, the feeding one wife, let alone four! same way many Muslims are praying for the victims of hurri- It is unfortunate that some men try to exploit the sub- canes and earthquakes globally; the same way many people of ject as a solution to the large number of unmarried girls in various religions come together in tragedy. the society, but there is nothing to ensure the rights of the This is not about religion. If we are only defending people new wife, because it will depend on the personality of the that inhabit our thought matrices, something is inherently man and his behavior, so marrying a married man can be wrong with us. How ignorant are we that we cannot see the risky. The justice that is urged by Islam will be exercised irony of all this? The victim and persecutor are one in all cases from the perspective of the man and not what Islam - when it comes down to labels. Why does the mind keep demands in order to preserve the dignity of women and maintenance of their future. objecting to this very obvious fact? When we finally acknowl- Polygamy is still socially unacceptable, although it is edge that everyone from all over the world plays both these religiously accepted, and is a common responsibility roles, regardless, we can break free from the realm of divisive- between men and women. I personally don’t support this ness and polarization. type of marriage and I think that the decision remains in A week later, this same woman posted a popular quote the hands of women. Therefore, I advise women, especial- which states that if your religion requires you to hate, then you ly non-Muslim ones, who may agree to marry married should change your religion. She captioned it as a note to men, that they need to think twice as there are no guaran- Buddhists in Myanmar. The irony of the quote was certainly, tees of protection for them and their children, and they most certainly, lost on her. And for a brief millisecond I actually may not be the last ones. giggled, thinking to myself how insane we are and how we use quotes for others that really may just as well apply to our- 4 Friday Local Friday, October 20, 2017 The disappearance of 1980s Kuwait Partially demolished Kuwait Airways building in Kuwait City. By Athoob Al-Shuaibi ago, in order to preserve its symbolic val- ue, which dates back to the late 1970s. Whether you’re a Kuwaiti or an expat, if Bayt Lothan, once a popular incuba- you lived here in the golden era of the tor nurturing talent of all kinds, stands 1980s (actually late 1970s until the 1990 empty and abandoned. Salam Building Iraqi invasion) you will recognize most if was replaced by Al-Salam mall in not all of these buildings and many of Salmiya and many fear Bayt Lothan will them may inevitably mean something to follow Salam’s destiny though no one you. Salam Building, Bayt Lothan, Kuwait know when. The sad state of the 38- Airways Building, Al-Sawaber and Pearl hectare complex in central Kuwait Al- Marzouq ring through our ears like sweet Sawaber is testimony of the failure of an memories of our youth. entire generation of hopes and dreams The common evoking factor of these and aspirations. iconic edifices is the close link to people’s The country’s development is a memories and hearts. Plus, they’re also a demand for equality with other nations testimony to the era of the cultural and that preceded it in modernization. But this social openness in Kuwait. Most of these should not be accompanied by blurring buildings and many others besides have the glimpses of the past.