Protests in Kuwait from 2011

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Location of Kuwait in the Middle East
Map Kuwait

As part of the Arab Spring , demonstrations also took place in Kuwait in early February 2011 . The main concern of the demonstrators was to obtain Kuwaiti citizenship.

causes

According to official figures, the emirate of Kuwait is inhabited by around two million people who do not have Kuwaiti citizenship. With a population of around 3.5 million, that makes about 57% of the population. In some cases, the proportion of Kuwait residents without Kuwaiti citizenship is estimated at 60%. This large part of the Kuwaiti population cannot benefit from Kuwait’s well-developed social security system and free health system, as it is only accessible to Kuwaiti citizens.

The populations concerned

In Kuwait, the following population groups have no citizenship: Bidun , stateless people of Arab origin. They are often descended from Bedouins who, for example in Kuwait, were not able to register and gain citizenship before 1920. The Bidun status is inherited and results in considerable social discrimination . Furthermore, there are Indians, Pakistanis, Iranians, various Southeast Asians and Arabs who have immigrated from other Arab states. Most of the representatives of these migrant groups immigrated to Kuwait to work there. Many of them want to return to their home countries later. A brutal turning point was the expulsion of the Palestinians from Kuwait in 1991 after the Second Gulf War , when the approximately 450,000 Palestinians living in Kuwait were almost completely expelled . After that, significantly fewer foreigners were admitted to Kuwait.

The contrast between sedentary Arabs and Bidun

The stateless Arabs known as Bidun are to be distinguished from the Bedouins . They are often treated like second-class people, even though they are also ethnic and linguistically Arab . The between 150,000 and 180,000 Bidun are not allowed to send their children to state schools, even though schooling is compulsory in Kuwait, they do not work in government agencies and they do not issue property in their names. Unemployment is also very high due to the lack of schooling; Due to the lack of citizenship, they also have great problems finding accommodation. In addition, they do not have passports. Because of these reasons, they are dependent on grants from Islamic welfare organizations.

The Bidun are said to be more backward. It is unclear whether they are sedentary or not.

The contrast between Sunnis and Shiites and the predominance of the as-Sabah family

Prime Minister Nasir al-Muhammad al-Ahmad as-Sabah

The share of Kuwait people who consider themselves to be Shiites is around 35%. Yet they do not seem to have any stake in the government. There the relevant ministers (for defense, home affairs, foreign affairs, finance and oil) are provided by members of the as-Sabah family, who are Sunnis and have ruled the country since 1756. This is possible because around 1500 princes and princesses are said to belong to this family.

There is also a parliament in Kuwait, but there is no clear legal status for the establishment of parties.

Involved

So far, the Kuwait Bedouins have been involved in the protests . It is unclear whether the other groups also took part in the demonstrations or will still take part or organize their own protests.

The organizers of the demonstrations that will take place in March are Ahmed al Chaeid and Hamid al-Ulayan. It is unclear whether the demonstration is related to those of the Bedouins or whether it is about another opposition group.

Course of events

February 18

There are demonstrations in Jahra in which 30 demonstrators are said to have been injured and a total of 50 people were arrested. More than 1,000 people took part in the demonstrations.

8th of March

Thousands of demonstrators are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nasir al-Muhammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah , who is a nephew of the Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah . The demonstrators also called for a change of thinking within Kuwait and the resignation of the entire current government. Political reforms are also called for.

March 11

After the Friday prayers there are again demonstrations. A total of around 200 Arabs who do not have Kuwaiti citizenship demonstrate. The police are using force against them.

November 16

After months of protests by government opponents in front of the parliament building, a few dozen demonstrators stormed the building and sang the national anthem there before leaving the building. Rescue workers used batons, five people were injured.

November 28th

The government around Nasir al-Muhammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah submits its resignation to the Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah .

Reactions (national) to the Bidun protests

After verifying that the demonstrators had violated Kuwaiti law, several were released. Their approach was heavily criticized because it would not help them.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Protests in Arabia: Bloodbath in Libya ( Memento from February 20, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), Financial Times Deutschland, accessed: July 2, 2012 7:34 p.m.
  2. ↑ a b Wave of protests spreads across more and more Arab states - unrest everywhere krone.at, accessed: July 2, 2012 7:34 p.m.
  3. ^ "March 8 Parliament session to discuss vital decisions" ( Memento from April 1, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Al-Watan Daily Newspaper. March 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ Fuchs, Martina (February 19, 2011) “Kuwait police clash with hundreds of protesters” , Reuters
  5. ^ Angry welcome for Palestinian in Kuwait , BBC News, May 30, 2001.
  6. ↑ a b Gerlach, Julia "The poor sons of the desert", Berliner Zeitung of February 23, 2011, p .: 8
  7. ↑ Bassam Tibi: The Conspiracy. The trauma of Arab politics. 1st edition, Hoffmann and Campe Verlag, Hamburg 1993, ISBN 3-455-08477-X , p. 224 ff.
  8. ↑ a b “Kuwait. Demonstrators call for protests “ Focus online, access : March 9, 2011 10:14 pm
  9. ↑ a b “Kuwait. Thousands demand the resignation of the Prime Minister “ Focus online, accessed: March 9, 2011 10:07 pm
  10. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110220210944/http://www.msnbc.msn.com:80/id/41676934/ns/world_news-mideast/n_africa/
  11. ^ "Protesters call for reform in Kuwait" ( Memento from February 22, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) CNN World online, accessed: March 2, 2011, 8:41 pm
  12. ↑ https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article13722089/Oppositionsanhaenger-stuermen-Parlament-in-Kuwait.html
  13. ↑ "Youth groups call for protests in Kuwait. Test of strength for the government “ NZZ online, accessed: March 9, 2011 10:11 pm
  14. ↑ “Protest marches and violence in the Gulf States” Deutsche Welle online, accessed: March 13, 2011 10:37 pm
  15. ^ "Protests after Friday prayers in Arab Gulf states" Reuters online, accessed: March 13, 2011 10:38 pm
  16. ^ "New waves of protests in the Arab world. Demonstrations in Yemen, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia ” picture online, access: March 13, 2011 10:40 pm
  17. ↑ Protesters storm Kuwait's parliament In: Zeit Online, November 17, 2011, accessed on February 27, 2012.
  18. ↑ a b "Kuwait's government resigns" Time online, access: November 28, 2011 8:48 pm
  19. ↑ "Detention of the demonstrators and justification of the government" Accessed: February 28, 2011, 10:59 pm