Kuwait's information minister resigned yesterday, one day before he was due to be questioned in parliament mainly over allowing "immoral" Western-style concerts in the country. Mohammad Abulhasan handed in his resignation to Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the state news agency Kuna reported, adding that it was sent to the Amir, His Highness Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, to decide whether to accept it. "I handed in my resignation ... not to avoid serving my country or in fear of political questioning, but to protect my country from political discussions, skirmishes and wrangling from which we would all lose," Kuna quoted Abulhasan as saying.
Shaikh Sabah said that Labour Minister Faisal Al Hajji would oversee the information ministry for the time being, Kuna said. Abulhasan, the only Shia minister in the 18-member cabinet, was due to be questioned today by some MPs over allegations including neglect of social values after he approved music concerts deemed un-Islamic by critics. Shaikh Sabah has warned that the questioning, demanded by Sunni MPs, could lead to sectarian rifts in the state if it were mishandled. Shias make up one-third of the pro-Western country's population of 950,000 and hold five seats in the 50-member parliament.
Waleed Al Tabtabae, a key critical MP, accused Abulhasan of "running away from political responsibility" by resigning and said there were no differences between Shia and Sunni members of parliament over the case. "The questioning covers issues agreed upon by both Sunnis and Shi'ites which is to protect values and morals," he told Arab satellite television Al Arabiya. "We do not object to serious and composed concerts, but we oppose events which encourage corruption and immorality."ÂÂ
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