Min 9º Max 22º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16763- Friday, January 22, 2016 E-Cigs grow in Putin ‘probably Emotional popularity but approved’ farewell as without regulation Litvinenko killing: Hewitt bows out 7 Probe13 47 See Pages 4 & 5 Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016 Local Spotlight Kaffeeklatsch Trafficking in babies Take it in your stride By Muna Al-Fuzai By Shakir Reshamwala [email protected] [email protected] n a horrifying incident, police in Kuwait arrested an ASE STUDY 1: A university student stabbed in the man rushed to the ICU with a wound that required 20 Asian woman involved with a gang specialized in traf- head by four persons who chased his car. A man stitches after being hit with an axe. Scores of reports filed ficking in babies. Trafficking in children is a form of I arrested for stabbing a fellow motorist in the hand at police stations over blows exchanged, insults hurled human trafficking, and its unclear exactly what fate await- C ed these babies or how they would lead lives without and ramming his vehicle. A man beaten and shots fired and obscene gestures made. documents or other necessary paperwork. There is also at his car. Another motorist beaten, sworn at and threat- The common thread linking these crimes is again a stu- fear that the babies were being trafficked for illicit pur- ened by a firearm. A truck driver run over by another. pid one - staring. Of course, everyone stares at each other poses not to be sold to desperate would-be parents for Scores of reports filed at police stations over blows in Kuwait. It is so common that you don’t even feel the adoption. Although security sources said that all the exchanged, insults hurled and obscene gestures made. eyes boring into you anymore, probably because you too babies involved were born outside wedlock, this doesn’t The common thread linking these traffic incidents in are busy staring at someone else. Again, staring can be justify their act and they should be punished for their Kuwait is dispute over the right of way. Yes, that’s true - benign, or it can be provocative. Prolonged harmless star- crime. Police had the woman under surveillance for a while people are resorting to invectives and beating and even ing is usually met with a glare, which forces oglers to avert and she was arrested with one of the mothers and four killing each other because of such a trivial reason. Road their gaze. Provocative staring on the other hand, that is newborn babies. The babies have been hospitalized. The rage is for real, and it perceived to be mock- suspect confessed to acting as a middleperson for her would’ve been under- ing or leery, is one that compatriots. She said she usually took the babies imme- standable if motorists took can get you in trouble. diately after birth and sold them for KD 250 each to child- offence if their rights were In fact, official crime sta- less couples. The root cause of these incidents is genuinely trampled upon, tistics released a couple The fact that these babies were born outside wedlock related to the ego, which for many people facilitated the process, as no claims will be made by their although even in such cir- of years back said most parents. I guess their parents would not want to have cumstances, violence is in Kuwait, seems to be easily bruised. bloody fights start with anything to do with them and may even be involved in never the answer. two or more parties selling the babies and making quick cash out of their own But on Kuwait’s roads, accusing each other of flesh! right of way is roughly staring at them. Several reports have been issued by the United determined not by law but by bullying. Older cars always CONCLUSION: The root cause of these incidents is Nations and organizations warning of the growing threat make way for newer cars, smaller vehicles move over for related to the ego, which for many people in Kuwait, of organized crime in human trafficking, especially of women and children, and in the trade of human organs in bigger ones, and drivers of some nationalities clear the seems to be easily bruised. Fuelled by a heady mix of recent years. This is a disgusting and shameful crime. path for those of other nationalities. Fall afoul of these hormones, money and arrogance, people take offense Human trafficking has become the third largest illegal unwritten rules of the road and you may be in for some for the slightest of slights, flying into rages and throwing trade in the world after drug dealing and arms running. serious headlight flashing, tailgating and honking, forc- juvenile tantrums, providing ample fodder for the crime Trafficking in babies must receive strict punishment, ing you to quickly change lanes and invite the ire of oth- pages. and should not be merely classified as kidnapping or any er motorists. I’m sure these energies can be channeled to more common crime because there are gangs and criminal fruitful pursuits, so the next time someone overtakes you organizations behind such evil acts. Luckily, this gang in Kuwait was arrested before harming the poor babies. The CASE 2: A man taken to hospital after being stabbed, on the highway or stares at you at the mall, resist the authorities must be on alert to prevent and detect new having his finger broken and beaten to unconsciousness. urge to retaliate, take a deep breath and relax - you don’t cases of human trafficking. The government must imple- A fight between six people, some of them drunk, in a want to find yourself in jail, or as a news brief in the local ment new laws for the protection of victims of trafficking mall. A youth stabbed six times after being chased. A dailies. and help them with full respect of their human rights. Photo of the Day KUWAIT: File photo shows a close up shot of an urban bee hive in Kuwait. Urban bee- keeping has become a popular pastime in Kuwait in recent years with many city dwellers keeping small apiaries in their gardens or on the rooftops of their buildings. Interested parties can learn more about urban beekeeping at an exhibition on the subject at Al Shaheed Park in Kuwait City through January 24. —Photo by Yasser Al Zayyat FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2016 Local Umm Talal at her kiosk. Kiosk No. 1 and the Souq Al-Hareem Story and photos by Athoob A. Alshuaibi ne of only three female vendors left at the famed Souq Al-Hareem in Kuwait City, Umm Talal arrives early every morning to O open her shop. Her assistants usually come a few minutes before, often to find that it’s been vandalized by unknown persons, with hateful gifts of feces or urine left near the kiosk for the aging merchant. Umm Talal has run this shop since she took it over from her mother. The souq which is located behind the Mubarakiya Market has become quiet, not teeming with life as it was in its former glory, and who goes there usually comes for a particular purpose. The waft- ing odors of clorox and sterilisers coming from the fore- front of the souq, where her kiosk is, overshadowed the scent of folk remedies, incense shops and the restau- rants around. “The three of us we are exposed to vandalism, Umm Ali and Umm Hussein and myself. I feel that someone wants to get us out of the market. In the past, there was a dishonest security guard that stole our merchandise. Also, we sometimes get vandalized by teenagers. Even on one National Day, some of them stole two Kuwaiti flags I had put them on the kiosk,” she complained. Souq Al-Hareem (The Women’s Market) is narrow alleyway of kiosk in a side market next to the Souq Al Mubarakiya in Kuwait City. At its high point, dozens of female vendors sold traditional clothing, Arabic Kohl (eyeliner), siwak (A teeth cleaning twig), dayrum (A plant used to beautify woman’s gums and whiten their teeth), clothes and other accessories. Umm Talal says that, today, the remaining three ven- dors bring traditional gowns from the UAE in addition to locally produced clothes. “Beside the traditional dresses, prayer robes, veils, and apparel for women and children Traditional fancy dresses are highly demanded by schools specially designed for national holidays,” she added. during national holidays. Some products are made in India and China. FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2016 Local Umm Talal tells the story behind Kuwait’s famous women’s market A disappearing heritage Built in the 1950s under the patronage of the late Shaikha Mudhi Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the kiosks were dedicated for Kuwait’s female vendors only. Since 2012, the old market, under the superintendence of the Chairman of the Kuwait Voluntary Work Centre, Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has been renovat- ed and restored. But despite its renovation, the souq has lost most of its vendors and remains under threat. Under the souq’s governing regulations, vendors may only be the female Kuwaiti owners themselves. Umm Talal believes that the main reason why Souq Al- Hareem is covered in a deep sleep is the fact that many of those ladies have grown older and can no longer Their goods are only secured by cardboard, ropes and Helpers wash the sidewalk around the kiosk. The kiosk manage the daily work hours or tasks needed to run bricks while they’re closed.