Prophet remark row: Kuwait to deport expats who protested, say reports

Kuwait will arrest and deport an unspecified number of expatriates who protested against BJP’s former spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s alleged derogatory comments against Prophet Muhammad, according to local media reports.

The reports, however, did not mention the nationality of expatriates who will be deported.

Also read: Prophet row rages as 15 countries denounce remarks by BJP leaders

At least 15 countries including Kuwait had lodged official protests against India for Sharma’s remarks in a TV debate. The ruling BJP took action and suspended her. Also, another BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal was expelled for his social media posts on Prophet Muhammad.

Kuwait and a few other nations had summoned Indian envoys over the issue. India, in a statement, had dismissed the remarks as done by “fringe elements”.

Also read: Violence over Prophet row: UP demolishes properties of ‘accused’

“Instructions were issued to arrest and bring in expats from Fahaheel area who organised a demonstration after Friday prayers in support of Prophet Muhammad,” Kuwait’s English newspaper Arab Times reported.

The sources, the newspaper said, confirmed that they will be deported from Kuwait as they violated the laws and regulation of the country which stipulates that sit-ins or demonstrations by expats are not to be organised in Kuwait.

Also read: ‘Unconditionally withdraw my statement’: BJP’s Nupur Sharma after suspension

The detectives are in the process of arresting them and referring to the deportation centre to be deported to their countries and will be banned from entering Kuwait again, Al Rai, a Kuwaiti newspaper, reported.

All expats in Kuwait must respect Kuwait laws and not take part in any type of demonstrations, it added.

“Police are in the process of arresting and referring them to the Deportation Directorate to send them back to their home countries and not allow them to return to Kuwait again,” the sources told the newspaper.

“All (foreign) residents in the country have to respect its laws and not to respond to any calls for sit-ins or demonstrations for any reason. Any law-breaking person will face a firm response,” the sources said.