KUWAIT CITY, March 24: As mosques across the country are crowded with worshipers seeking forgiveness and pardon during the holy month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Interior has been deploying patrols from various security sectors around these mosques -- especially the Grand Mosque, whose number of worshipers continues to increase day by day and is expected to reach its peak during the remaining nights of the holy month - to protect them and ensure smooth entry and exit for visitors. The newspaper reviewed the ministry’s security preparations around the Grand Mosque. Director General of the Civil Defense Department Brigadier General Nabil Hussein Al-Shatti confirmed that the department worked with various sectors in the ministry and other State institutions in securing the mosques during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

He said the department’s personnel and vehicles were deployed to the Grand Mosque and several other mosques, in addition to the deployment of approximately 120 volunteers at the Grand Mosque and 50 at other mosques, as well as the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), which operates under the supervision of the department. He disclosed that the volunteers provide all the necessary facilities to worshipers, as well as the required care and attention for the elderly and people with special needs.

He added these volunteers serve the worshipers during these blessed nights of Ramadan. He added the department oversees the evacuation process in emergencies, Allah forbid, and also the evacuation of missing persons. Meanwhile, Assistant Director of the Capital Rescue Patrols Brigadier General Mishaal Al-Shahman said that as per the directive of acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf; the ministry has taken security and traffic measures to implement the security plan to ensure the safety of worshipers and ease their entry to and exit from the mosques.

During his recent visit to the Grand Mosque with officials from the Emergency Patrols, Public Security, Traffic, Civil Defense, and Investigation sectors; Al- Shahman told the newspaper that “the Capital emergency patrols are deployed at all intersections around the Grand Mosque, the parking lots and markets, to secure these areas during the last ten days of Ramadan.” He explained that the presence of security personnel including female police officers is intended to assist and protect worshipers and harness all resources to enable them to perform their prayers without facing difficulties in reaching the mosques. He stressed, “it is our duty to assist them and our primary job is to care for the people.” He urged worshipers to avoid crowding after completing the prayer, so they can head to their vehicles with ease.

Assistant Director of Traffic Awareness at the General Traffic Department Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Bu Hassan affirmed that the department has prepared a proactive plan for the last 10 days of Ramadan. He revealed this plan includes deploying field security personnel to mosques, particularly those with large number of worshipers like the Grand Mosque. He added the department is coordinating with the Grand Mosque administration to transport worshipers to and from designated parking spaces before and after prayers. He revealed that 27 buses have been provided to transport worshipers from three locations -- Sharq Market, the square opposite Al-Sanabel Tower, and the square opposite Sharq Police Station.

“Two locations have been allocated for the elderly and people with special needs in the parking lots of Al-Manakh and Al-Tujar markets, opposite the Grand Mosque. Transportation of worshipers begins at 10:00 pm,” he stated. He continued saying that the ministry, in cooperation with various security sectors, mobilized all resources to ensure the safe arrival of worshipers to mosques, especially on the 27th night of Ramadan when a large number of worshipers usually fl ock to the Grand Mosque. He called on worshippers to park their vehicles properly; and to refrain from blocking others, parking on sidewalks or blocking entrances and exits. 

By Munif Naif
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff