About half of Kuwait's nearly three million citizens were estimated to comprise
Shi'ites. In 2010, Kuwait captured a Shi'ite cell alleged to have been
directed by Iran to target military targets, including those of the United
States.
Officials said Sunni-Shi'ite tensions escalated in Kuwait following
statements by dissident Yasser Al Habib. Al Habib, living in Britain since
2004, was quoted as disparaging the wife of the founder of Islam.
"We hope that everyone realizes how sensitive and dangerous statements
and counter-statements are," Defense Minister Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah said.
Sunni parliamentarians have demanded that measures be taken against Al
Habib. One proposal was that Kuwait rescind the citizenship of Al Habib, who
fled the Gulf Arab sheikdom after he was mistakenly freed during a royal
pardon.
"We believe the government is responsible for the slow moves to take
action against the criminal Habib," Faisal Al Mislem, a Sunni fundamentalist
parliamentarian, said.
Sunni critics said the Interior Ministry ban has not covered all
gatherings. They said Shi'ite meetings were still permitted.
"My question to the prime minister: Where is the national unity
committee that you promised to announce immediately after Id [El Fitr]?"
another Sunni parliamentarian, Jamaan Al Harbash, asked.
Officials said the government has come under pressure to draft a plan
that would reduce the prospect of a Sunni-Shi'ite clash in Kuwait. They said
the Interior Ministry would submit a report on Al Habib and whether his
citizenship should be canceled on Sept. 20. Al Habibi also has Iraqi
citizenship.
"People such as Yasser Al Habib, who harm national unity, are the ones
left unpunished," Mohammed Al Dalal, an attorney with the Sunni-based
Islamic Constitutional Movement, said.
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