Sectarian extremism

Muna Al-Fuzai

The speech by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the opening session of the 42nd Ministerial Council of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is worth noting. The Amir spoke about the seriousness of sectarianism and demanded a serious stance to avoid this form of extremism that has become a plagued entity in our Muslim nation, stressing that this threat is the most dangerous one to the existence of the nation.

There is no doubt that the best what is owned by Kuwait throughout history compared to our neighbors is democracy and tolerance, especially religious tolerance. The most dangerous thing we face today is sectarian extremism and we must determine how to confront the regional challenges for the fortification of our home front in order to guard and secure the society from conflicts abroad.

Kuwait is a multi-directional and multi-religious community, and this is a good thing. This is a required element for any civilized and democratic community. The citizens are mostly Muslims from multiple doctrines, whether Sunni or Shiite, with a minority of Christian Kuwaitis and expatriates from various religions and sects. The bottom line here is that we are a small community with overlapping religious and political interests, and this is why we need to maintain calmness between everyone.

Many people are disregarding the importance of respecting other religions and sects, and think they can encroach on others' beliefs and doctrines without realizing the seriousness of such acts. This is widely seen today by the actions of many conservative Sunnis towards Shiites and vice versa. This is not only a big mistake, but it is a crime that is unacceptable in all societies, not only Islamic ones. The risk here lies in the use of these people to promote their sick ideas and calls via television channels and social media to a lot of followers, especially the youth, who do not realize the seriousness of what they follow.

Despite the country's stability and tolerance, journalists and citizens must call for the promotion of a culture of tolerance, renounce hatred, violence and sectarianism and adopt a draft document of national rejection to all forms of discrimination, especially with regards to religious beliefs. To do so, it is necessary to strengthen the capabilities of citizens, journalists and political activists to strengthen the national discourse.

Currently, there is much mixing up between Iran as a country and Kuwaiti Shiites. Not all Shiites are supporters of the policies of Iran, and this is what many Sunnis do not seem ready to understand or accept. And here is the role of government agencies such as the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to allow new initiatives working on the development of a religious discourse to comply with the current requirements and promote a culture of tolerance and coexistence, calling for greater peace and rejecting extremism and violence.

Human rights must be considered a basic subject at all levels of education in Kuwait, starting from the primary phase until college, which will reflect on the behavior of individuals in their dealings with their local communities and others. The law must be enforced and maximum sentences should be imposed on those who misuse social media by broadcasting hate speech, whether by clerics, deputies or others, because such speech can and will lead to anarchy. The closure of extremist religious channels is very essential.

 I know that some of what I ask for seems too much and impossible now, but silence over sectarian extremism means acceptance and approval, and this should never happen.