Last night was the cultural event for the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Kuwait. As part of the cultural filled evening, a variety of Korean traditional and modern music performances were meant to take place including a performance by the K-pop group D-Crunch. But just before they were meant to perform, the Ministry of Information ordered a halt to the event.
Meanwhile in Riyad the popular K-pop group BTS performed 2 weeks ago in a packed stadium…
Not only that but the hashtag #dcrunch_come_to_saudiarabia has also been trending with Saudis apologizing to D-Crunch for what happened to them in Kuwait. This is just too weird, how did Saudi Arabia become more liberal than Kuwait overnight?
43 replies on “K-Pop Performance Canceled in Kuwait”
2 steps forward, 15 steps backward.
Will get there, its only a matter of time.
actually, at that rate, ‘there’ is a dark dismal abyss
meanwhile….. https://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/saudi-to-stage-womens-wrestling/
Well, without getting too political (don’t wanna bone saw visit). Saudi people are not more liberal than Kuwaitis, but they are forced against the will of the majority to ‘westernise’.
If you actually have a fair vote, both Kuwaitis and Saudis would vote to keep K-pop out because of it’s perceived incompatibility with culture and religion (even though I think its garbage music, its supposedly wholesome, but the locals don’t know that).
This is, and has always been the conundrum of the ‘left’ in the Middle East. If you are a leftist snowflake then you love democracy, but that always delivers you the ‘religious right’ in every middle eastern country, so the snowflake left compromises on their core tenants of democracy and human rights, in return for vodka and nightlife.
All of you suck!
I really want this minister gone, he’s the worst we’ve ever had. He told women to “cover up”, happily promoted that hijab advert and banned books to the point where the courts had to get involved.
I want this minister to stay. Hats off for doing the right thing.
Just so you know, this minister used to be the minister of awqaf and tried to block Jalal Al-Din Al-Rumi from entering Kuwait. You know, the poet that’s been dead for 700~ years. The brightest mind, that’s for sure.
Hats off? What hat? You would be deported like the k-pop band for taking about hats. It’s against the national outfit or something else I’m sure. Also how dare you use a western phrase. Hats off indeed!
Yes but does Saudi have a staircase being renovated by Tamdeen? Dont think so. #winning
I’d scream “YAAAS Queen” and click my fingers frantically but I don’t wanna get banned too. #dragrace
Good riddance.
Would you like it if someone said “good riddance” to a performer you wanted to see?
Saudi didn’t become more liberal than Kuwait, the government decided the people have to be strict and religious which they did for decades now the government decided that the people should be open and liberal which is what is being portrayed, anyone opposing the so called liberalization there will be questioned and hushed. Here things are more institutional and the information minster is afraid to be questioned by the islamic MP members. And currently so liberal MP members are in the processes of questioning his decision, So everyone has a voice in the parliament. People should choose MP’s in a better manner, on the other hand the strict MP’s are being voted in by people who dont represent the actual kuwaitis demographic, but by people who got the citizenship illegally who ironically the majority of those dual citizenship holders are saudis
If u could give you a biscuit I would.
If i could give you a biscuit I would.
Lets both assume that it happened
“on the other hand the strict MP’s are being voted in by people who dont represent the actual kuwaitis demographic, but by people who got the citizenship illegally who ironically the majority of those dual citizenship holders are saudis”
Is this a fact or a claim?
If it is a fact, what are the sources?
If it is something claimed by the government, what has the government done about it?
Keep in mind we are talking about a total population of 1.3 million only.
Fact
-The speaker of the parliament stated during a parliament session that it is estimated that the illegal dual citizenship holders are around 400K ( the vid is avail on youtube ).
-Every single authorized kuwaiti newspaper for last 2 years have been publishing court ruling in favor of dropping kuwaiti citizenship from people who got it illegally thousands of cases until this time ( go thru the archives of these papers on a daily basis for the last couple of months for “the source” )
-The government drafted a law a couple of years ago to make DNA testing for that purpose of exposing those dual national holders , it got out voted bu those extremists in parliament ( the draft and who voted against it by name is available online )
“The government drafted a law a couple of years ago to make DNA testing for that purpose of exposing those dual national holders , it got out voted bu those extremists in parliament”
Extremists?! Because they didn’t support a law that would give the government an arm to “cancel” citizenship of Kuwaitis?
I can’t discuss anything with this logic.
What is your proof that the people who voted in the parliament have dual citizenships? Kuwait has always been conservative except for the sixties due to pan Arabism at the time. Sure Kuwait has always seemed more liberal than the rest of the GCC countries but the majority of kuwaitis aren’t liberal. In the height of the 1960s liberalism the Kuwaiti parliament banned alcohol proving that most people weren’t liberal not even back then. Or are you saying that Sayed Yousef Alrifai -the MP who led the campaign to ban alchohol- is also Saudi?
“Kuwait has always seemed more liberal than the rest of the GCC countries”
Kuwaitis are Kuwaitis. Breaking us into liberals or whatever is not going to help understand our context within the region.
Kuwait evolved differently from the rest of the Gulf because of our social and political settings. Back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s Kuwaitis were looking at Baghdad, Beirut, and Cairo who were far more advanced than the Gulf.
Kuwaitis evolved throughout the years until we reached our unique ‘moderate’ culture. This is why you see men without long beard preaching religion and girls in skirts above the knees wearing full makeup going to the prayer rooms at the malls. This didn’t happen overnight or because someone imposed something on others.
This happened because the culture evolved after years of ups and downs to reach where it is right now. Remember that Kuwaitis experienced everything from absolute freedom to absence of freedom. We didn’t reach the point we’re at today because someone woke up one morning and decided let’s try something different or because a paid adviser suggested to distract the media from whatever mess being committed. We paid dearly to be where we are today.
You are talking about the 60’s i am taking about 2019, different era different circumstances different era….. But to your claims Yousif Al Rifae led the ban on alcohol in the 60’s ? So pre 60’s why was the alcohol there to begin with ? Who brought it and why was it accepted socially ? Why did this guy have to come an campaign against it ?
You are claiming that most of the people who vote aren’t really Kuwaitis because you think Kuwaitis are more liberal we are not, not the majority at least. Pre 60s alcohol was only sold to Christians openly by Crey McKenzie a company brought by the East India company. It was illegal to sell it to Kuwaitis and it wasn’t accepted socially. Yousef Alrifai was not the only MP who voted to ban alcohol. In fact, 49 out of 50 MPs voted along with him. Again, were they Saudis too?
YUP
You can vote in MPs if you are Kuwaiti guys. If you disagree with ministry decisions stop trying to vote in people for favors
Saudi is an absolute monarchy where nothing is written down and people have to change their mood on what they accept on a daily basis so yes, that’s how it “becomes liberal”. Ask the average saudi salafi how he feels about KPOP bands lol
I guess maybe its only a matter of permit that the embassy didn’t had to organize that party and same that happened with the sirlankan embassy few years ago but still its an embarrassment for us
I dont get it. How do all of these concerts keep getting announced and then cancelled? What’s up with that? Why isnt this planned beforehand prior to advertising the event everywhere?
I went to the theater last night and I was scammed! Left the show too disappointed. The band did not even perform a single song! I just wasted my time. I will just watch them and bts saudi concert in yt.
Poor girls and boys who were with me at the theather. We had to endure the cultural songs…only to be told that D-crunch will not perform. We only wanted to see this group.
Scammed? Endure the cultural songs? Yup you seem like a very nice person.
This is the bigger question. Why does this keep happening? Why does it get canceled at the last minute. Surely, authorities will be aware that there is such a concert. Could they just not stop it outright.
Please don’t compare Saudi with Kuwait. Especially when we have constitution, laws and regulations that we live within and their lives is mostly based on a person decision.
If you think a ruler mood today is allowing people to party is a step forward and upholding the constitution and rule of law is a step backward, then I really have nothing to argue.
Well put Saudi aside for a second you know that’s how Dubai is run right? A CEO on the top making all the decisions.
So it’s cool to say we have a democracy but the only way things seem to get done around here anyway is through the Amiri Diwan which if I understood it correctly is basically the Amir giving a go ahead on stuff without having to go through the system. Just like Dubai.
So projects like the new airport, the cultural center, the museums, shaheed park, the new hospital all would not have happened if it wasn’t because the usual democratic process was bypassed.
“…all would not have happened if it wasn’t because the usual democratic process was bypassed.”
Europe has “democratic processes” and oversight. I don’t see them going backward or their development being halted. The problem is not with the tools and processes but with those who want to operate within this system using their ‘incompatible’ ways.
The notion that the democratic processes or the parliament hindering development is absurd. Let us pause here for few seconds… If the parliament is the problem, and the parliament is representative of Kuwaiti citizens, does that mean Kuwaiti citizens are intentionally impeding their country development? Or does it mean that the “development” being imposed is not compatible with the citizens desires and aspirations?
I’d say it is very important that we don’t let go or attack the foundations that protect our human dignity for the sake of quick cash or momentarily pleasures.
Best of the rest of the world: building quantum computers, landing after planes orbiting space for a year, and delivering thousands of to handhelds in a minute.
Kuwait: Footloose (2019)
Well to use a business analogy since we’ve started
The “CEO” system works great when you have a good CEO who wants to grow the company and is worried about the wellbeing of his people
How many companies survive the CEO passing the reigns to his son?
Parliament allows on average a person’s voice to be heard. That means you don’t listen to the absolute brilliant visionaries as much, but you also don’t listen to the guys who want to invade neighbors and put themselves into massive debt for no reason
The way I see it is that Islamic MPs and ‘scholars’ if you want to call them that, are losing their influence fast especially with what is happening in Saudi Arabia where it was once their haven. So they went to overdrive mode in the only country that I can think of in which they are allowed to do that. They’re basically fighting for attention.
Totally regressive if you ask me. It’s true that the Saudis were behind Kuwait at one point and still are in many regards and it it also true that their government is run by one person essentially whereas Kuwait has a constitution etc. etc. etc.
But as someone who grew up in Kuwait in the 80s, I remember the UAE being decades behind Kuwait in every way (economy, reform, culture and liberalism) and look at where they are now? Again, I’m not saying the UAE is the best country in the world or anything (in fact I think they’re overdoing it, but that’s a topic for another post) but the fact is that their system works better than the one in Kuwait.
Well, without getting too political (don’t wanna bone saw visit). Saudi people are not more liberal than Kuwaitis, but they are forced against the will of the majority to ‘westernise’.
If you actually have a fair vote, both Kuwaitis and Saudis would vote to keep K-pop out because of it’s perceived incompatibility with culture and religion (even though I think its garbage music, its supposedly wholesome, but the locals don’t know that).
This is, and has always been the conundrum of the ‘left’ in the Middle East. If you are a leftist snowflake you love democracy, but that always delivers you the ‘religious right’ in every middle eastern country, so the snowflake left compromises their core tenants of democracy and human rights, in return for vodka and nightlife.
Although Liberalism is a political stance that promotes freedom for all but the way I see it, liberals can’t stand seeing anyone else promoting, say, their religious beliefs. How does they stand for freedom but become so flustered once they see anything other than liberalism being voiced to the public? Nothing but a bunch of hypocrites if you ask me. (I know, Muslims have a bunch of those too!) And to announce Saudi as more liberal than Kuwait, it begs the question of “is Kuwait or Saudi so liberal to begin with?”
In this context, that you correlated the degree liberalism with holding a concert and (or) people attending to such concert, I always wanted to go to a metal concert, and still do, yeah? does it make me a liberal? No. It has nothing to do with liberalism as individuals. But as a nation that once prohibited women driving cars? Sure, call it liberalism and call Saudi being more liberal than Kuwait.
Cheers!
But that’s exactly what being liberal is… “open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values.”
I get to enhance my behavior and gain new perspectives without necessary discarding my traditional values. I think many share this mentality without associating themselves with liberalism or labeling themselves as liberals. Hell, I’ve seen people labeling themselves as liberals while abusing others rights to express their identities and values. So the way I see it is liberalism can be defined as a thing while practiced in a totally different manner. Same with Islam frankly.
I hope KSA will correct their track soon.
Kuwait is a semi democracy. If people don’t like what’s happening then just vote for people that will change what you want changed. Simple. It’s the only country in the region that it’s citizens have the privilege. Sadly not many know how to use it and some sell their vote to desperate candidates. The more I hear stuff about KSA. The more I get scared for KSA. You can’t go zero to 100 and not stir up a lot of people.
Why do I sense that you don’t know how the Kuwaiti Parliament works? The unfortunate truth is my friend, under the table there’s a whole different story being woven. Whoever is running this kind of things, want you and many others to think Citizens hold the power of choice. While all we see is tribes being tribal and dirty means being used to get their people on board. While other members have their ghost patrons, or rather puppet masters, pulling their strings. Or is it just me haha