KUWAIT CITY - The Kuwait International Airport on Tuesday witnessed an unprecedented scenario for a few hours when senior airport officials prevented a prominent Egyptian academic and thinker Dr Nasr Hamed Abu Zeid from entering the country, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
When Abu Zeid arrived at the airport some Islamists threatened to create problems for the government if he was allowed to enter the country, said the daily quoting sources.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Lt. Gen. Ahmed Al-Rujaib in a telephone conversation with the daily said "the entry visa for Abu Zeid was issued last November. However, when he arrived at the airport, the Immigration Department discovered the State Security department had slapped a ban on his entry.
Abu Zeid left the country at 10:00 pm on the same day for Cairo after spending a few hours at the airport.
According to knowledgeable sources Abu Zeid came to Kuwait upon an invitation from the Center for Dialogue on Culture 'Tanweer (enlightenment)'. He was to give two lectures on 'Religious Reform on the Constitutional State and 'Women's issues between the Quran and accepted jurisprudential thought'.
A number of MPs have severely criticized Abu Zeid, accusing him of blasphemy and heresy. They also demanded the government prevent him from entering the country. In the meantime, MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei has praised the decision taken by the Ministry of Interior.
On the other hand, MP Saleh Al-Mulla said this decision violates the freedom and laws and warned the government against giving concessions to some MPs.
MP Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi said the decision amounts to abuse of dignity and reputation of the country. She also said it is absurd to think the government issues a visit visa and then prevents the person from entering the country.
The Secretary-General of the Social and Cultural Society for Women Lulwa Al-Mulla said terrorists and radical thinkers are threatening our government and have been interfering with our daily lives and our educational system in addition to imparting on our children radical thoughts and preparing them to fight jihad in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Dr Abu Zeid said he was shocked when he was told by airport officials that he is not welcome in Kuwait based on instructions issued by higher authorities, says Al-Watan daily.
He also said the decision is not worth his shoes, and has also promised to hold two conferences in Egypt and Holland to reveal scandals.
Taleb Al-Mawla, a member of Tanweer Centre said Islamist MPs have put pressure on the Interior Minister and threatened to back the no-confidence motion if Abu Zeid was allowed to enter the country.
Arab Times 2009
