Kuwaiti govt plans action against unlicenced mosques citing security concerns

Kuwaiti athorities have decided to take action against all unlicenced mosques and worship areas citing security issues.

The ministry of cabinet affairs has decided to task the municipality of Kuwait City to coordinate with the ministry of interior, the ministry of endowments and Islamic affairs and other agencies concerned to address the issue and find prompt solutions, a report published in Gulf News quoted Kuwaiti daily Al Rai's report. 

According to the report, cabinet affairs minister Shaikh Mohammad Al Abdullah said the government had reviewed a recommendation submitted by the committee for public services regarding the proliferation of mosques and places of worship that do not have official approval.

Kuwait, like other countries in the Gulf region, has started paying special attention to the usually small and makeshift mosques erected for people living or working far from large mosques.

However, the possibility of misuse of such structures is pushing the government to step in and eliminate possible threats to security.

In June 2015, a suicide bombing inside a Shia mosque in Kuwait City killed 27 people and wounded more than 220.

The act of terror, widely condemned by all parties and communities in Kuwait, has led to the authorities stepping up security around mosques and religious community centres.