SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 THULHIJJA 8, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Employment Trump visits Monsoon rains Liverpool of non-Kuwaitis Texas disaster bring India’s agree record according to zone before financial capital deal to laws: Sabeeh3 Harvey6 return to a standstill9 sign16 Keita British police seeking 1987 Min 28º Max 46º Qabas cartoonist’s killer High Tide 04:44 & 18:42 Low Tide Authorities appeal for information about suspects 12:14 & 23:42 32 PAGES NO: 17319 150 FILS LONDON: British police re-launched an investigation yes- terday into the murder of a Palestinian cartoonist 30 years Iran pilgrims flock for hajj, Qataris few to the day after he was shot dead in a London street. Naji Salim Hussain Al-Ali, a political cartoonist for the Kuwaiti TEHRAN/DOHA: In a diplomatic icebreaker between newspaper Al-Qabas, was shot in the back of the neck as political foes, tens of thousands of Muslim faithful from he walked to his office on July 22, 1987. The 51-year-old Iran have flocked to Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj pil- died in a coma in hospital on Aug 29 that year. grimage to Islam’s holiest sites. This week’s hajj marks Scotland Yard’s Counter Iran’s return after their absence last year following a mas- Terrorism Command (CTC) is sive stampede in 2015 that killed around 2,300 people, reopening the case, appealing for including 464 Iranians. The tragedy sparked bitter recrim- information about the gunman ination from Tehran over the kingdom’s custodianship of and a second man later seen driv- the sites in Makkah and Madinah. ing away from the scene. For the first time in nearly three decades, Iranian pil- They feel allegiances may have grims were barred from the hajj last year, after several shifted over time and people with rounds of negotiations between the two Gulf heavy- information who did not come weights failed to overcome political and procedural dif- forward in 1987 may now feel ferences. Adding a further obstacle, the Sunni kingdom able to speak. cut all ties with Iran in January 2016 after its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad were torched by pro- “The brutal murder of Mr Al-Ali testers angered by Saudi Arabia’s execution of a promi- devastated his family and 30 Naji Al-Ali nent Shiite figure. But under a deal struck in March, years on they continue to feel the about 86,000 Iranians have now arrived in Saudi Arabia loss,” CTC commander Dean Haydon said. “A lot can change for the hajj, joining two million Muslims from across the in 30 years: Allegiances shift and people who were not will- globe in converging on Makkah. “I’m happy to see so ing to speak at the time of the murder may now be pre- many Iranians here... Political issues shouldn’t interfere in pared to come forward with crucial information. “We a religious duty, especially the hajj,” Abbas Ali, a 54-year- remain open-minded about the motive for Mr Al-Ali’s mur- old Iranian, said yesterday at Jeddah airport that is the der and we believe there are people somewhere who have information that could help us bring those responsible for main entry point for pilgrims. MAKKAH: Large cooling fans spray water on Muslim pilgrims around the Grand Mosque ahead of the Continued on Page 11 his murder to justice.” annual hajj pilgrimage yesterday. — AP Continued on Page 11 LOCAL WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 Photo of the day KUWAIT: Photo captures the panoramic view of the seaside along the Gulf Road in Kuwait City. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Kuwait Airways transports 4,684 pilgrims In my view JEDDAH: Kuwait Airways operated 16 cooperation. manpower reinforcements. A letter from an expat flights carrying around 4,684 pilgrims He indicated that the precautionary from Kuwait to Islam’s hallowed Relief teams ready actions involve other departments grounds to undertake the holy Islamic Meanwhile, Civil defense and Red namely the fire authority to ensure that journey of Hajj, one of the company’s Crescent teams are full ready to pro- no combustible materials exist at the officials said yesterday. Kuwait Airways’ vide safety and emergency service for pilgrims’ gathering locations. Col Al- By Talal Al-Ghannam regional director for the Gulf Mishaal pilgrims at start of the rituals in Mina Faraj also noted that the precautionary Al-Dalak said that Kuwait’s national today, a civil defense chief said yester- activities include examination of safety carrier is eager to provide convenient day. Colonel Humoud Al-Faraj said that at the tunnels, cautioning that using trips to Islam’s holiest shrine. He point- safety and pre-emptive precautions’ liquefied gas is not allowed at the ed out that passengers will find the teams have already examined safety camps. Also, the Saudi Red Crescent company’s new fleet of Boeing 777- procedures at the camps. The civil announced that 36 medical centers [email protected] 300ER aircraft comfortable and satis- defense teams have been trained on had been set up. The medical teams on factory. He added that flights carrying evacuation, placing pilgrims at poten- the ground are backed by aerial units Kuwait Airways’ regional director for the pilgrims ran smoothly and prompt- tial risks in safe locations, restoring for speedy transportation of ill pilgrims ood morning dear brothers and sisters, and I greet you in advance the Gulf Mishaal Al-Dalak ly, thanking Saudi authorities for their normal conditions, equipment and aboard helicopters. —Agencies on the advent of Eid Al-Adha. In this article, I am posting a letter Gsent to me by an expat in which he detailed the hardships wit- nessed by the majority of expats here in Kuwait due to the recent propos- als submitted by MPs or other relevant authorities. I am publishing his appeal in the hope his message would be heard by those concerned: (Letter starts) Venting my frustrations on the way things are going in Kuwait. Apologies in advance, but not having a voice in what happens in a place I have lived in and grown attached to over the past 10 years con- stantly frustrates, and you, from your pieces published in the Kuwait Times, are one of the few sympathetic ears I know, so please bear with me if you will. Just today I read in a local blog a piece that was published in the Times in November 2015 (why such a delay I have no idea). In this piece, a cer- tain government official was quoted as having said: “As a country of law, we protect expatriates and their rights... however, those who do not have a job do not have a place among us. This is how it should be, and that is what we believe should be done”. Quite who the WE is, is not clarified, but it I assume that the honorable gentleman is claiming to speak for most if not all Kuwaitis. I trust that the statement is addressing the issue of the many thousands of expats work- ing illegally in Kuwait and not the dependents of those who legally hold a job. As far as it goes, the weeding out of ‘illegals’ is fully justified, although many are illegally employed with the collusion of some Kuwaiti employers KUWAIT: With only a few days remaining until Muslims from all across the globe undertake the Holy Islamic journey of Hajj, Kuwait’s International Airport has or otherwise. been teeming with activity to accommodate pilgrims heading to Islam’s hallowed grounds. Around 4,000 pilgrims are expected to depart en masse for Hajj. Sadly the ‘rights’ and conditions of the vast majority of expats, legal as — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat well as illegal, have taken a severe bashing over the last two to three years, to the point where certain reports would have us believe that Kuwait has become one of the world’s least desirable destination for expats. Be that as it may, many rules and regulations introduced over the Proteges unveil ‘Kamala’ at Ooredoo last two to three years tended to make expat life in Kuwait more unattrac- tive and certainly more complicated. These include: • A tax to be levied on expat remittances. Educational Arabic card game aimed at enriching culture • The imposition of higher charges for water and electricity. • Increased charges for public healthcare. KUWAIT: Ooredoo, Kuwait’s fastest net- Alayoub added, “We had a successful •Smaller living space at greater cost in newly-constructed apartment work, hosted the seventh generation of partnership with the Proteges two years in buildings. the Proteges in its head office last week, to a row. They embody a number of great • Restrictions placed on expat visit visas. deliver a presentation of their final project. values that we strongly believe in, such as • Restrictions on the issuance of driving licenses. The students unveiled their project challenging and connecting.” He added: • The expulsion of ‘bachelor’ expats from living quarters in Kuwaiti ‘Kamala’, an Arabic card game aimed at “The program focuses on a number of housing areas (rented to them by Kuwaitis). educating youth about famous Arab cul- core values and skills such as tolerance, • Compulsory early retirement of expats in the public sector. tural and historic figures. In critical thinking, and cre- Some of these hit the pocket of expats, whilst others simply make life a presentation to Ooredoo, ativity, which are important more difficult and restrictive. Whatever their true intentions, the new gen- represented by CSR and assets in creating future eration of rules and regulations have certainly made the vast majority of Sponsorships manager leaders.