Lebanese singer Pascal Mashaalani has recently held two concerts at the Safeer Palace Hotel in Ruqa’I suburb on Eid El Fitr (Muslim holiday after Ramadan) in Kuwait despite the chaos that erupted before her scheduled performance. Many had speculated that Pascal would cancel her concerts fearing for her safety, but she broke all barriers in her way and insisted on singing in the country.
The concerts were marked with success as Kuwaitis presented her with flowers and heavy security was provided to ensure her personal safety and to avoid the occurrence of any problems. Pascal stressed that she did not fear coming to Kuwait despite the strong opposition expressed by Islamist groups saying that her presence proves it. She added that the opposition did not precisely target her, but targeted all singers, and that it did not affect in any way the crowd of people who eagerly came to hear her and were the cause of her success.
Recently, a peaceful strike has been organized by Islamic groups to take place in front of the hall where Mashaalani held her performance. The strike was organized by a political Islamic groups in Kuwait, and is expected to be as big as the previous one that was held last month during the Superstar concert held in Kuwait. Islamic activists from Kuwaiti Islamic Brotherhood who are also members in the Social Reformation Society (SRS) and Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM), waged a campaign to prevent Pascal’s concert from taking place but all attempts were not successful.
In a precedent act, (SRS) announced a play only for women and kids to be performed during the Eid El Fitr holiday where men are not allowed to attend. This announcement added to the rejections of Pascal’s concert, is an indication of a clear strategy to go forward with what they call (the Islamization of holy days), in many occasions the society asserted that they do not stand against celebrations but against its quality.
Kuwaiti Minister of Information Ahmad Abu Al Hassan has announced that he has once and for all put an end to the disputes that rose over the participation of Lebanese singer Pascal Mashalaani disregarding the complaints filed by Islamist members of Parliament. Ahmad stressed that Pascal will hold her scheduled performance during the Eid Holiday (Muslim Holiday after Ramadan), and he will ensure that all goes according to plans.
Ahmad added that there will be no interference in Pascal's concert and that Kuwaiti law does not forbid people to hold entertainment performances and sing. It was also noted that Pascal will get her chance to sing as was the case with other singers who recently held concerts in Kuwait.
A number of Kuwaiti Islamist have called on government officials to interfere in stopping the occurrence of musical concert to be held by Mashaalani scheduled to take place this month. Islamists have expressed their anger towards the Minister of Information for allowing such entertainment activities to take place in such a critical period of time.
It was stressed that the opposition has occurred due to the fact that Kuwait is still taking in martyrs that fell victims of the Iraqi war. Islamists added that how can entertainment activities take place in Kuwait at a time when the fate of so many Kuwaitis, who were taken captives during the 1990 Gulf War, is still unknown. - Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
