Kuwait: Shiite reject having their mosques monitored

The chairman of the Shiite scholars gathering in Kuwait, Muhammad Baqer al-Mahri, yesterday refused plans by the Kuwaiti Islamic ministry of al-Awqaf plans to monitor mosques affiliate to the Shiite community.

Meantime an opinion poll by Kuwaiti men voters showed that 50.3% support giving women political rights, but reject giving them rights to nominate themselves in elections.

Al-Mahri said that "the Shiite mosques do not affiliate to the ministry of al-Awqaf. The Ministry does not appoint Shiite Imams and we do not take our salaries from them." He added "most of the ministry's employees are from al-Salafeyah and we are not pleased with their recommendations."

However, the Kuwaiti minister of al-Awqaf Abdullah Matouk said that all mosques in Kuwait, being Shiite or Sunni are under the supervision of al-Awqaf ministry, while the Kuwaiti papers indicated on Monday that the Kuwaiti government decided to direct a final warning to al-Mahri because of his heated debates during Friday's sermons.

Al-Mahri said "I have not received any warning from the ministry or any other side and if they send such a warning I will not receive it. We are independent, and do not belong to the ministry of al-Awqaf, Our commitment is only for the political leadership in the country and to al-Sabah family."

Meantime, an opinion poll held by "the Arab establishment for consultancy studies and researches " for Kuwaiti men voters whose results issued on Tuesday said that 50.2% support giving women their political rights but oppose their nomination to the elections.