Protesters call for rights of Bedouns

KUWAIT : Kuwait should protect the rights of Bedouns in recognition of their contribution to the nation, Political Activist Eng Talal Al-Enezi told the Arab Times. Al-Enezi was speaking Wednesday during a demonstration held in front of the Kuwait Human Rights Society (KHRS) in protest of the recent statements issued by Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee at KHRS Ali Al-Baghli against Bedouns. “Al-Baghli should fight for the rights of Bedouns instead of blocking moves to solve their problems,” Al-Enezi demanded. He then went on to ask, “who are these Bedouns? Aren’t they the ones who sacrificed not only their resources but also their lives for Kuwait? Have we forgotten how they fought on behalf of Kuwait in various conflicts in Egypt and Syria? Aren’t they the ones who risked their lives to protect the Amir during an earlier attempt to assassinate him?” Considering these sacrifices, Al-Enezi wondered why Bedouns are being ostracized in Kuwait. He then urged Al-Baghli to apologize to these individuals since he failed to defend their rights. “We have expected Al-Baghli to stand by our side in times like this but it is very disheartening to see him on the opposite side,” Al-Enezi lamented. Clarifying the protesters are not asking for racism, Al-Enezi pointed out “we are focusing on uniting Kuwaitis but we often face a lot of obstacles as some parties prefer to live in a sectarian society.” He also underscored the fact that organizing a strike is a constitutional right granted to Kuwaitis allowing them to air their grievances in a peaceful manner. Meanwhile, Bader Al-Khayyal, one of the organizers of the strike, stressed democracy is about freedom of expression, a right granted to everyone. “We gathered here today to expose the unjust treatment of Bedouns in Kuwait. People, who have no mercy towards those who lost their basic social rights, maltreated Bedouns and let them suffer for several years,” Al-Khayyal said. Condemning the statements of Al-Baghli, Al-Khayyal added Bedouns are the minority in Kuwait, where they are being ostracized, deprived of their rights and accused of following terrorist ideologies. He demanded for the resignation of Al-Baghli who is currently occupying a vital position in a society that is supposed to protect the rights of Bedouns. Al-Khayyal also praised the decision of Attorney Fawziya Al-Sabah to resign from her post at KHRS in protest of Al-Baghli’s recent statements. He added the protestors are demanding for the resignation of not only Al-Baghli but all the executive committee members as well. By Mohammed Al-Enezi Special to the Arab Times

Kuwait: Promises Betrayed - Discrimination Based on Origin and Status: The Bidun

For as long as I live I will never understand how these poor people will continue to be discriminated against in the worst of ways. Most of us will never fathom the kind of life they have to live, or the feeling of helplessness they have. Yet most of us will also never know the depth and courage many of them have either.

I truly pray for them daily, yet in some ways I also envy what their misfortune has taught them.

How sad that one has to suffer to be strong. And how sad that one's strength comes from suffering.

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.

(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.

(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.

(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.

(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.

(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.

(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.

(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.

(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

As human beings we have the ability to make decisions, and even act on them.

Sometimes I look at my life, all the things I have done, wanted to do, should have done, could have done, and didn't do becuase I didn't want to. These were all my choice. I am allowed to make mistakes and live with the outcome, or do something positive and live with that as well.

However, in the life of a Bidoon they have few choices. Their entire existence is dictated to them by the Kuwaiti Government which denies them the most basic of human rights. These are people (as you have all read here before) who are not authorized to carry Kuwaiti passports, and most don't even have a passport. They are people without an Embassy, driver's license, vehicles in their name, jobs, homes, or medical care.

So what does this leave? The decision to wake up in the morning?

Bidoon communities in Kuwait are usually the higher crime areas....for obvious reasons. When in fact, these people aren't "criminals" per se, but rather victims of what society has burdened them with.

I live 7,000 miles away from everything I have grown up with. My family, my home, my culture. Yet I have more choices and rights in the country of Kuwait than a Bidoon whose family has resided here longer than Kuwait has been Kuwait.

The Human Rights Act states that every person should have basic human rights. Yet a Bidoon has none, and when they ask for them it's almost a joke in Kuwait. Though ask most Kuwaitis how they feel about the Bidoon situation and they say, "It's such a shame." Is this truly the general consensus, and if so, why has nothing been done about it?

Or is it just the answer most figure the American Girl wants to hear?

It's a new year, and it seems I am quite late in making the time to post about it.

However, it's been quite hectic, and will continue to be this way for the next couple of weeks. Holidays, vacations, etc.

I will continue to update on a regular basis as soon as my schedule gets back to normal.