Visa Ban On Religious Personalities

20 May 2016 Crime News

Kuwait said it will stop issuing visas to religious personalities who plan to visit Kuwait during the holy month of Ramadan because they are known for their controversial views.

These people traditionally visit the country to deliver sermons and lectures during Ramadan.

The Interior Ministry during a meeting with other government institutions and security agencies has said it wants the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to provide it with the names of religious figures it wants to invite to Kuwait.

The Interior Ministry explained it needs time to check the backgrounds of these people before taking a decision of issuing them the visa or denying it.

The ministry is also planning to limit visits by people from specific countries to Kuwait during Ramadan, particularly the Syrians, Jordanians, Iraqis and Yemenis.

The meeting also recommended that donations in cash will be banned at all mosques and places of worship and that they would be limited to charity organizations licensed by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.

Tents, which are traditionally set up near mosques during Ramadan to allow more space for breaking fast collectively or holding gatherings, will be strictly banned and any offender will be held accountable.

The Interior Ministry stressed its zero-tolerance policy towards begging and reiterated that it would be strict in granting visit visas to ensure that foreigners do not take advantage of the holy month to enter Kuwait and engage in the lucrative activity of asking money from people.

Foreigners who are caught begging will be deported and will be banned from entering any other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country in the future. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Money transfers abroad and the names of the senders and receivers will be strictly monitored, the meeting disclosed.

Surveillances of mosques and places of worship will be reinforced during Ramadan and the festive celebrations that follow it, the Interior Ministry said.

 

SOURCE : ARABTIMES

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