Kuwaitis regard an unstable Iraq that will destabilise the rest of the region as a bigger threat than the rise of a Shiite majority coming to power in the elections.
Sunni and Shiite lawmakers, politicians and analysts in Kuwait believe that majority rule with minority rights is the essence of democracy and by raising the spectre of Shiite power in the region, Sunnis are laying the foundations for an unstable Iraq lost to sectarian conflict.
"It is very depressing that Sunnis in the region bring up this fear when in reality the Shiites are a majority in Iraq, have been an original part of the country since 1920 along with Kurds, Christians and other sects and all of them have this first time opportunity to create a role and place for everybody through representation", Ali Al Matrouq an outspoken Shiite liberal told Gulf News.
"Kuwaiti Shiites are in a minority but yet because this is democratic country we are represented in parliament and live full peaceful lives," Al Matrouq added.
Kuwaiti Shiites make up one third of a population of 950,000 and currently have five MPs in the 50 seat National Assembly.
Ali Al Baghli, former oil minister and a well respected Shiite columnist, said, "Every vote will count and this Sunni fear is baseless. These fears rise from the fact that the region is unaccustomed to the process of democracy.
"The majority will respect the minority because this is a democratic election. I hope the election succeeds. The democratic process and the butchering of innocents may carry on side by side but in the end democracy must prevail.any civil war there will not only destabilise Kuwait but the whole region."
Nasser Al Sane, a Sunni Islamist MP, told Gulf News: "A Shiite majority in power through an election is not a threat; it is an unstable Iraq that will destroy the rest of the region.
"The challenge here is to have a fair election.. Whatever the results of Sunday's polls, this will give the Iraqis an opportunity for another round of national momentum, a chance to repair the political fabric.
"All of the Iraqi people can overcome the shifting of power to majority rule."
Sunni political analyst Shafique Al Ghabra said: "The Shiites and the Kurds have been brutalised for years by Saddam Hussain and it is improper to raise the question of Shiite power Shiites are 60 per cent of the population of Iraq and the foundation of a new Iraq must have a balanced power structure.
"If the country evolves into a liberal democracy under a constitution it won't matter who holds majority power.
"Once there is an assembly, a fair constitution with full participation of all groups, Iraq can become a role model for both politics and business," he added.
"One way or the other Sunnis have to come around, participate in the electionsIraqis do not subscribe to the ideology of the rule of religious scholars, the Shiites are independent and their religious leaders are not fanatics.
"Kuwait has no Shiite phobia and we look forward to peace, co-operation and trade with a stable democratic Iraq."
Gulf News
