Category: Kuwait

[YouTube]

This weekend a group of volunteers got together and fixed up the underground pedestrian tunnel that connects Jabriya to Rumaithiya. The tunnel was in disarray with graffiti everywhere and dim lights that made the tunnel creepy in the dark. Great community effort and you can heck out some photos on @rumaithiyame

This is the first time I see this footage which was filmed by the Dutch navy. The video quality is pretty choppy but it still gave me goosebumps. [YouTube]

A video of youngsters kissing in a car went viral yesterday and controversy followed. Information on the youngsters names, job positions and even stuff about their families started spreading between people. I am bitter, I think if you do see something that might harm a person’s reputation or get a person in legal trouble then DO NOT SHARE!

Lets look at Article 198 from the Kuwait Penal Law,

“Any person who makes an indecent sign or an act in a public place in such a manner that he is seen or is heard by whoever is in a public place, or he imitates the other sex in any form of forms, shall be punished with imprisonment for a period that shall not exceed one year and a fine that shall not exceed one thousands Dinars or by either of the penalties”

The Article is very vague and includes a variety of acts as crimes. Let us break it down:

1) “an indecent sign or an act in a public place” – this means anything from making out, to giving the middle finger, to writing a swear word, seriously who decides what is indecent?

2) “in such a manner that he is seen or is heard by whoever is in a public place” – so it doesn’t have to take place IN the public place as long as it could be seen/heard FROM a public place, so basically in your car, your office if the windows are open and your not private twitter account are all applicable.

3) “he/she imitates the other sex in any form of forms” – and who decides this too? Its 2013, products are turning unisex, seriously me and Mark have the same purple shorts.

What they did was not smart but let us just hope that they just get fined, and I quote Mark – “that’s excitement in Kuwait for ya”

Post by Fajer Ahmed – Legal Counsel
Have a Kuwait law related question? Email me at [email protected]

The legal opinions expressed in this post are those of the author Fajer. Opinions expressed by Mark or any other writer on mark248am1.wpenginepowered.com are those of the individual’s and in no way reflect Fajer’s opinion.

The Huntley Film Archives have uploaded another video of Kuwait from their film archive, this time dating back to around 1970. Video starts of slow a bit but becomes more interesting after the 3 minute mark. [YouTube]

In case you missed my previous posts on films on Kuwait from the Huntley Film Archives, below are the links:
Close Up On Kuwait – 1962 (a must watch)
Kuwait adverts from the 1980’s

No idea from what year since the video doesn’t have a description. [YouTube]

Back in 2011, someone decided it would be smart to reduce the size of the middle sidewalk in old Salmiya by creating a dirt pit around all the trees. I guess the idea was that they would plant these pits with greenery which I was against since I knew no one would maintain it. I received some criticism regarding my views because I wasn’t being optimistic.

Well the picture above is how the median looks like over 2 years later. This is why I was suggesting the other day they plant fake grass in old Salmiya instead of destroying the beautiful Gulf Road with fake grass.

Kuwaiti Children Left Behind is a website that was inspired from the popular Saudichildrenleftbehind.com blog. The aim of the website is to help Kuwaiti children find their parents who might have left them when they were young. The story I posted awhile back of the American girl who’s mother stayed at the Sheraton back in the late 70s is on that website for example.

Check it out [Here]

According to Desert Girl, they’re going to be replacing all the real grass on the Gulf Road with fake ones. I mean I wouldn’t mind fake grass in Salmiya since it’s better than the sandy pit they have there right now (Check picture below) but I was always fond of the Gulf Road greenery. Check out her post for a bit more info [Here]

Kuwait is one of the top 10 biggest improving cities according to the latest Liveability report by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The rank is calculated based on 30 factors spread out across five categories: stability, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and culture and environment. Check out the article [Here]

Thanks Bassem

Last week I was helping out a friend with a university project related to sexual crimes under Kuwait’s Penal Law and I thought it would be something interesting to share on the blog as well because there’s a lot of confusion on the subject. Whether you or I agree or do not agree with the law, please stay safe and legal readers.

Note: Where I have written a person is guilty and age does not matter, that means the age does not matter for the crime to occur. That does not mean the person gets punished if underaged, instead juvenile laws are followed.

No idea what the building used to be but I found the door open and just walked in. It’s located in the parking lot behind Jashanmal in Kuwait City. Like all old Kuwaiti buildings there’s lot of nice open space inside and someone really should take the building over and renovate it.

Captain Abdool is a locally produced stop motion web series created by two brothers, Maitham Abdal and Hasan Abdal. So far the episodes are pretty basic but they are planning to introduce more characters and environments soon.

Usually the way they work is by coming up with an episode idea and then seeing if the props needed are available in the size they need (1:6 scale). If the prop is not available they either make it or change the whole idea depending on the amount of effort and cost. The animation is done in their small studio at home and takes around an hour or two to shoot. Once they’ve done shooting they modify and clean up all the shots in post and then add the music and any sound effects in the video editor. Each episode generally takes between 6 to 12 hours to complete.

I really love what they’re doing. I think their character Captain Abdool is cute and their stop motion looks great but their stories definitely need a lot of work on since their endings are all pretty weak. You can check out all their episodes to date in their YouTube channel [Here]

Letter Home is a book written by Karen Alanizi on her experiences during the 1990 Kuwait invasion. Below is the description I got from her website:

The Compelling true story of Karen Alanizi and her Kuwaiti husband during the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

Based on a letter written to her family in England her story reveals the heart-wrenching emotions, fears and the often amusing and sometimes bizarre side of life during the Iraqi occupation.

She describes the desperation of their separation, and the journeys that eventually re-unite them in England.

As the Gulf War unfolds they fear for their family and friends left behind in Kuwait and wait impatiently for the Liberation of the country that they love so much.

I haven’t read the book but while checking out her website I found some interesting pictures she had taken during and after the invasion. One of my favorites is the one I posted above of the two people in a George Bush and Margaret Thatcher masks. If you’re interested in her book or checking out more photos click [Here]

Al Jazeera has photos taken of NES right after the invasion showing the state it was in. One of my favorite photos from the bunch is the one above of Jehan Rajab, the co-founder of the New English School. The photo was taken outside the school grounds following liberation. Check out all the photos [Here]

Thanks Mathew