First political party to be established in Kuwait

Islamists in Kuwait announced on Sunday the formation of "al-Ummah party" the first political party in the Arab Gulf states despite the fact the Kuwaiti authorities have not recognized the political parties and there are no law to such parties in Kuwait.

The Kuwaiti Islamic activist Hakim al-Mateiri, the secretary general of the new party was until few days ago the secretary general of the al-Salafeyah movement, said in a press conference that "al-Ummah party was formed."

He said that the principles of this party stem from the right of people to participation in choosing their governments, according to pluralism and rotating authority by peaceful means.

Al-Mateiri and his founding members called on the Kuwaiti government and the Ummah council to draw a law organizing the affairs of parties and political aggregation.