“The 1961 Press and Publications Law in Kuwait stipulates that blasphemy is a crime punishable by a prison sentence that ranges from a few months to several years. Following more stringent laws in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the Kuwaiti Parliament just approved provisionally–pending a second vote–the death penalty for those who defame God, or the Prophet and his wives. Apparently, ”[t]he move to stiffen penalties for religious crimes came after authorities last month arrested a Shiite tweeter for allegedly cursing the Prophet Mohammed, his wife and some companions.” It also comes in response to increasing incidents of sectarian graffiti on mosques throughout Kuwait since the 2011 Arab uprisings as well as to growing calls to execute Hamza Kashgari in neighboring Saudi Arabia. Some Shi`i Parliament members also demanded the same penalty for those who curse any of the sect’s twelve revered Imams, but to no avail. The background to all this is in part the growing sectarian tension in Kuwait, and in the region. One potential ray of hope: the vote was not unanimous, though maybe for the wrong reasons…………”

They are changing the normally open tolerant society of Kuwait into a smaller Wahhabi tribal version of the most intolerant society in the world, Saudi Arabia. In that they are acting as a religious, cultural, and probably political Wahhabi fifth column.
The Salafis and their Muslim Brother and tribal allies (their allies in this particular case in the sense of both being intolerant pro-Wahhabis) seem to think that God needs their protection from libel by mere humans. They took it upon themselves to claim representation of Allah, because that gives them some power over others. Assuming the others are naive enough to concede that these opportunistic pretenders do in fact represent the interests of Allah (unfortunately some of them are naive enough, others are just too afraid). These extremist opportunists represent their own interests and those of outsiders (they look upon the Saudi palace Mufti as their guide). It seems to be working for now.
There may soon be a death sentence imposed not only for libeling Allah, but for criticizing historical figures that have been dead for fifteen centuries. That ought to kill any serious research in religious history and theology in my hometown, if there ever was any. There will be a death sentence for libeling God and some very dead gentlemen (and maybe ladies), unless some authority decides to put a stop to this travesty of religion and justice and freedom of expression, this march toward Wahhabism.
Cheers
mhg


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