Calls to Quell Growing Islamist Influence

A member of Kuwait’s ruling Sabah family and former minister called on the country’s silent majority to rise up and quell the growing Islamist influence in the oil-rich state.

In remarks published Saturday, Sheikh Saud al Sabah, oil and information minister in governments from 1992 to 2001, also called for blocking efforts in parliament to amend the criminal code with the strict Islamic sharia law.

“The time has come for the silent nationalist majority to rise against this dangerous march over the country’s security and stability,” the sheikh told Kuwait’s Al Qabas daily.