Manama: A Kuwaiti lawmaker has come in for intense criticism from fellow MPs and social media users after he visited the family of Emad Mughniyeh, the late Hezbollah commander accused of involvement in the hijacking of a Kuwaiti airliner and the assassination attempt against Kuwait’s late Emir Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad.
The controversy erupted after MP Abdul Hamid Dashti posted pictures of him kissing the head of Mughniyeh’s father and sitting with members of the family.
The pictures went viral on the internet and the Kuwaiti blogosphere and social media focused on the significance and consequences of Dashti’s action. While some users expressed support for Dashti, the overwhelming majority condemned him amid calls to strip him of his citizenship.
“The behaviour of MP Dashti is unacceptable, irresponsible and provocative,” Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al Ganem said on his Twitter account. “It certainly does not help with the consolidation of national unity and Dashti should be held responsible for it. I urge everyone to adhere to the patriotic national unity.”
MP Nabeel Al Fadhl said that Dahsti’s visit to the Mughniyeh family was condemnable.
“Even if his personal view is different from that of the Kuwaitis, Mughniyeh remains in our collective conscience as the one who hijacked our plane and killed our sons,” he said. “Dashti should not have offended the feelings of our citizens and particularly of the victims’ families.”
Abdullah Al Tareeji, another lawmaker, said the interior ministry should investigate the visit.
“I tell the interior ministry the picture of Dashti kissing the head of Emad Mughniyeh’s father calls for an investigation into the ties between the lawmaker and the enemies of Kuwait and the killers of its sons,” he said, quoted by Kuwaiti daily Al Qabas.
Former MP Nasser Al Duwaila said that the silence of the government was more ominous than Dashti’s behaviour.
“By remaining silent, the government lets the door wide open to accusations and counteraccusation that will take the country to a dangerous division. The least the government should do is to launch an investigation,” he said.
Columnist Fuad Al Hashem said Dashti’s visit was a serious threat to national unity.
“What the Emir did to reinforce our unity by visiting Al Sadeq Mosque where he cried over the victims was destroyed by Dashti by his fake kiss on Mughniyeh’s head,” he said.
However, Ahmad Al Duwaisan, a blogger, said he supported Dashti. “I wish you had taken me with you to kiss the zenith of dignity and courage,” he posted.
Mohammad Al Tamimi, another blogger, also said he was with Dashti. “I want them to give me any evidence against Emad Mughniyeh. I simply cannot believe them.”
Blogger Nader Karam, however, said that Dashti should weigh more carefully the significance of his behaviour.
“Would you accept for example that a Kuwaiti lawmaker goes to kiss the head of the father of the terrorist who blew himself up inside Al Sadeq Mosque, just like you kissed the head of the father of the terrorist who hijacked the Kuwaiti plane?”
The blogger was referring to the suicide bombing in Kuwait City on June 26 in which 26 worshippers were killed and 228 were wounded.
Dashti, in his replies on Twitter, remained defiant.
“I understand negative reactions by members of Daesh and by criminals after I thanked the families of the martyrs of the Lebanese resistance, but I do not expect such attitudes from sensible people,” he said.
In another tweet, he said that people were free to cast aspersions on him but signed off provocatively. “However, my silence is the answer. Do not think that I am weak. After all, lions do not respond to dogs.”
