 KUWAIT CITY: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has no place for preachers who use the pulpit to promote radical and extremist ideas, the sector minister told a seminar Tuesday."The Awqaf Ministry rejects all forms of extremism and we have made it clear that those who promote extremist ideas from the pulpits have no place in the ministry," Dr Matouq Abdullah Al-Matouq told the seminar held under the slogan 'Together Against Terror' organized by MP Jamal Al-Omar at the Al-Omar Diwaniya in Adailiya.The gathering was also addressed by MPs Saleh Ashour, Hassan Jowhar, Ali Hmoud Al-Hajeri, Mohammed Khalifa and Issam Dabbous.
| When you come right down to it, government has no place for a Ministry of Islamic Affairs, does it? |
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Acting Minister of Information Faisal Al-Hajji also attended. Dr Matouq said extremism has nothing to do with Islam. "They (the extremists) call us 'Tagut' (idol worshippers) and say praying behind us or with us is tantamount to praying with idol worshippers, neither do they respect the sanctity of our mosques. Their leaders are the Internet. Their leaders are evil. Those who have no leaders have Satan as their leader."He said only 2 or 3 people among the extremists were found to have been employees of the ministry. The ministry, he said, dispensed with the services of Amer Khlaif Al-Enezi, the spiritual leader of the militants, when it became aware of his radical ideas.
| Embarrassing, isn't it? But then, if there wasn't a Ministry of Islamic Affairs, you wouldn't have that problem. But it's tough to let people fend for themselves when it comes to religion... |
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