'Disaster awaits if govt fails to approve anti terrorism bill'

(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY April 13: Kuwait will 'taste disaster' if the government fails to approve a law to fight terrorism especially since the entire region is surrounded by hostile forces which threaten the security of all countries of the region reports Al- Shahed daily quoting reliable security sources. According to these sources Kuwait is the only State that does not have laws to fight terrorism. The same sources added the anti-terrorism bill did not get the backing from the National Assembly because of the presence of MPs belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood Group in successive parliaments. The sources added the impending fear is the return of 'terrorists' who have gone to take part in the Syrian conflict because there is no law to contain them and surprisingly the government has neither a vision to handle the situation nor knows the number of these fighters.

The sources added the situation is so critical that the government fails to arrest any person who posts his name address and telephone number on Twitter calling for 'donations' to buy missiles for example. Even if the person is arrested and referred to the judiciary no action is taken simply because there is no law and there is no text for punishment. A number of MPs said like other GCC states Kuwait needs a legislation to combat the phenomenon of terrorism. MP Mubarak Al-Hurais said: 'We will seek a legislation to protect the security of the country' and MP Abdullah Maayouf confirmed among the proposals that have been submitted by the MPs is to revoke the nationality of any person who is found to belong to a terrorist organization.

However he said this proposal is still under study but 'certainly we need laws that will allow us to research follow-up and investigate sleeper cells.' MP Faris Al-Otaibi said Kuwait is committed to international conventions to fight strange intellectual trends; and 'we actually need to deter criminal acts and misguided ideas that threaten our internal security.' MP Kamel Al-Awadi said terrorism is a crime and 'we must pass a legislation to contain this menace.' MP Rakan Al-Nisf called for 'overhauling' state security or criminal laws.

MP Saadoun Hamad affirmed a draft law has been submitted to punish terrorism and it will be approved unanimously. He called for speeding up the application of this law because of the current situation experienced by the region. MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan called upon the government to approve the draft law which has been submitted by him and a group of MPs to punish terrorism. He said the approval of this law should be the priority.