Saudi Sheikh banned from Kuwait 21, January 2010
Posted by thegulfblog.com in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.Tags: Al Oraifi, Al Oraifi banned from Kuwait, Ali Al Sistani, Kuwait-Iraq relations, Sunni Shia conflict
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Kuwaiti authorities have banned the controversial Saudi Sheikh Mohammad Al Oraifi from entering the state. He caused outrage recently with comments describing the revered Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, Iraq’s and top religious leader, as “an atheist and a depraved man”. The Gulf News reports that Al Oraifi travels every week to Doha via Kuwait to meet friends.
This clearly shows that Kuwait is taking pains to avoid provoking its northerly neighbour. By refusing his entry, I think this is really it is quite a gesture, especially so coupled with recent announcements regarding Kuwait revoking Iraq’s need to continue war reparations. Here’s hoping that ‘Iraq’ pays attention and responds in kind if and when the need arises.
It is not much of a surprise that Qatar does not have any problems with Al Oraifi entering: they have something of a reputation for taking a rather laissez-faire attitude to such things.
The Gulf blog 
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