Kuwaiti Islamists Form First Political Party--IslamOnline.net

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3//Islam Online.net, Qatar Sun., Jan. 30, 2005- Dhul-Hijjah 20 - 18:20 GMT

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-01/30/article05.shtml



KUWAITI ISLAMISTS FORM FIRST POLITICAL PARTY



KUWAIT, January 30 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Kuwaiti Islamists announced Saturday, January 29, the creation of the first political party not only in the emirate but also the Gulf region, with political reforms high on the agenda.



“We will work to set up a society ruled by the teachings of Islam. It will seek the implementation of Islamic Shari`ah laws in all political, economic, legislative and social sectors,” the nascent Ummah (Nation) Party’s spokesman Jaber al-Murri said in a statement reported by Reuters.



Women's legitimate rights will be guaranteed, in addition to backing political pluralism, peaceful transition of power, commitment to majority rule and rejection of all forms of political tyranny, added the statement.

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Gulf Unity

The Ummah party said it would endeavor to achieve political, economic and military unity among the Gulf countries to protect the region and to dispense with the foreign military presence which threatens its sovereignty and independence.



There are thousands of US forces deployed in Gulf countries, including 30,000 in Kuwait alone.



The fledging party further added that the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the world's largest Muslim body, must be revamped to support the Palestinians and other Islamic causes.



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First Party

“This is the first party in the Gulf region,” al-Murri told Reuters.


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Political parties are not allowed in Gulf countries.



There are some political groups operating in Kuwait, including a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic Constitutional Movement and the Salafist Movement.



There are also 15 Islamists in the 50-member Kuwaiti parliament.



The launching ceremony of the new party were attended by officials from the US embassy in Kuwait.