Joke lost on comedy show

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 17: MP Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi criticized on Sunday the accusations directed by the Ministry of Informa-tion towards General Manager of Scope TV Channel, Kuwaiti writer-director Fajr Al-Saeed, saying that the ministry is heading towards a state of restriction and isolation which is contrary to the democratic development of Kuwait.

The public prosecution on Thursday released the media person, Fajr Al-Saeed, after she was taken into custody on the charge of incitement to topple the regime through a program aired by her channel, Scope TV, on a comedy show. Al-Saeed denied the allegations made by the Ministry of Information and professed her loyalty to the government.

"I am amazed at the irreverence regarding the irresponsible and serious allegations such as these. These kinds of accusations are a grave risk as they are carried by the internal and external media to the world. It's repetition and wide breath gives the image that there really are people in Kuwait who are trying to overthrow the government," she said Sunday.

The Ministry of Information and its minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, have been facing severe criticism lately from liberal MPs and rights activists on its banning of books and other publications. Furthermore, in December 2009, Al-Sour satellite TV station was shut down after its airing of a program the ministry and opposition MPs deemed to have undermined national unity. 

"I am not in a position to defend Ms. Al-Saeed or Scope TV as they have contributed to the political and social movement of Kuwait, whether we agree or disagree with their positions. They are both fit enough to defend themselves. I am merely surprised at the selectiveness and arbitrariness of the ministry as it turns a blind eye to other media which fuel controversy. This will ultimately threaten the instability of the country's social system," added Dr Al-Awadhi.

Consequently, it is reported that the Scope TV Channel administration is planning to sue the Minister of Information for filing a case against the channel without legal grounds.

Al-Awadhi urged the ministry to uptake its responsibilities and its true and positive role of vitalizing the media and intellectual thought in the country instead of standing against media persons and intellectuals and restricting them.

She requested further details on the case and the basis of the ministry's accusations of Fajr al-Saeed among other information.

On his part, former MP, Mohammed Alabed Algader, requested the immediate resignation of the Minister of Information, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, due to his restrictions on freedoms.

"Freedom of thought and expression is supported by the Kuwaiti Constitution, therefore executive bodies should work in that regard instead of restricting freedoms that are allowed constitutionally," he said.
Algader added that the ministry went overboard by listening to those who requested the banning of certain books from this year's Kuwait Book Fair. According to the Ministry of Information, 25 books out of 24,000 titles were banned, however rights groups claim that as many as 120 books were excluded.
"The Ministry of Information has become unnecessary, therefore I recommend its dissolution and turning over its responsibilities to organizations," he concluded.

Meanwhile, 250 people attacked the Scope TV station Sunday evening, destroying some of the contents before attempting to burn it.

The channel abruptly went off the air Sunday, airing only a report on the incident, stating that several people led by a high-ranking diplomat stormed the station, destroyed some equipment and used dangerous weapons to threaten employees.

Board Chairman of the station Fajer Al-Saeed has accused Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Faisal Al-Hamoud of leading the attack. However, sources close to Sheikh Faisal denied his involvement, clarifying that the ambassador was present at the scene to control the situation and calm down the attackers.

On the other hand, sources said Managing Director of the station Talal Al-Saeed reported the incident at Sharq Police Station, accusing the attackers of attempted murder. 

Moreover, Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Sabah affirmed the attackers are now under the custody of the ministry. He said the security officers have started investigating the incident, affirming that nobody is above the law, so justice will take its full course against the perpetrators.  "We will not accept attack against anybody. I have been personally following up the incident through the senior officers deployed at the scene.  This is an offensive act and it is not in line with our customs. We are on top of the situation to forestall further degeneration," he asserted.

Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security Affairs Major General Khalil Al-Shamali, Assistant Undersecretary for Operations Major General Dr Mustafa Al-Zaabi, Capital Security Directorate Chief Major General Tarek Hamada, and several other senior officers were on hand to maintain law and order. The officers assessed the extent of damage, estimating losses of thousands of dinars.  They also invited detectives to lift fingerprints from the scene to identify the culprits.   

Commenting on the incident, Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Dr Mohammad Al-Sabah stressed, "Kuwait is a lawful and secure country, so if there is any problem we will handle it accordingly."

Agencies add:
"She was questioned by the public prosecutor on Thursday over a complaint by the information ministry and was released without bail," Faisal al-Enezi told AFP.

The prosecutor accused Saeed of attempting to overthrow the government, change the country's economic and social systems and demolish the foundations of society using illegal means, Enezi said.
"My client categorically denied the accusations and said they were politically motivated," he said.
The accusations were based on a comedy show titled "Sawtak Wasal" or "Your Voice Has Been Heard," aired in August by Scope TV.

Saeed both writes and directs the show.
One episode spoke about "privatising and exporting Kuwaiti democracy" in a comic way to highlight continued wranglings that have rocked politics in the oil-rich country for years, Enezi said.

On Monday the public prosecution is scheduled to interrogate the satellite station's director Talal al-Saeed, a former MP and Fajer's brother, the lawyer added.

MPs have lashed out at the government over the accusations.

"Referring the Scope channel to the public prosecution on state security charges over a comedy show is a catastrophe and a silly act by the information ministry," parliament speaker Jassem al-Khorafi told reporters.

© Arab Times 2010