Musallam Al-Barrak
Encyclopedia
Musallam AlـBarrak is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly
, representing the fourth district. Born in 1956, Al-Barrak studied Arab literature and worked in the Municipal Council before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996. While political parties are technically illegal in Kuwait, Al-Barrak affiliates with the Popular Action Bloc
. He is a member of the Mutairi tribe.
Al-Barrak then joined MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaie
in urging opposition MPs to sign a reform document pledging to work to slash constituencies to five from the current 25 following the June 29 elections. All 333 candidates for parliament were asked to join the initiative by signing the Reform Charter. Al-Tabtabaie declared that, "The names of supporters will be published in the newspapers for voters to know who backs reform and who doesn't."
and other countries that have seen protests against the execution of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein
. Al-Barrak strongly condemned the positions of Yemen, Libya
, Fatah
, Hamas
, and certain groups in Jordan
that deplored Saddam’s execution and hailed him as a martyr. Al-Barrak ridiculed Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh
and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi
, calling them “the orphans of Saddam Hussein who will face the same dark fate." Al-Barrak was quoted by the Kuwait Times
as saying, "Yemen’s president has said that Saddam’s execution is an insult to all Arabs and we say that it is an insult to all leaders who oppress their people. Saddam has gone to the dustbin of history while his orphans Saleh and Gaddafi wait for their dark fate." Al-Barrak went on to say he regretted the flow of Kuwaiti financial aid to Yemen and other countries, the latest of which was a $200m interest-free loan to Yemen: “It appears that our destiny is to increase aid and help to countries while they increase their insults towards us. We urge the government to defend the dignity of the Kuwaiti people."
wanted to question him about failing to curb consumer debts and embezzlement in state investments abroad during his time as finance minister. The prime minister pre-empted the parliamentary grilling and angered lawmakers who accused him of covering up corruption and undermining their constitutional right to question ministers.
The political standoff reached unprecedented levels when the prime minister and the speaker of the house, Jassem Al-Kharafi
, exchanged criticism and accusations in a television interview and a statement published in the country's newspapers.
, and Adel Al-Saraawi
accused Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al-Sabah of using his influence when he was chief executive officer of Kuwait's Burgan Bank to open accounts at the request of his cousin, in the names of paper companies so that they could be used for siphoning the stolen money. Minister Al-Sabah, who is a member of the royal family, resigned before a vote of no-confidence could be held against him. Transportation Minister Sharedah al-Mawashergi resigned in solidarity with the Oil Minister.
In the lead-up to the vote, Al-Barrak, Ali Al-Daqbaashi
, Saleh Ashour
and Hussein Muzyed spoke against the minister while Khalaf Al-Enezi
, Ali Al-Rashid
, Mohammed Al-Sager
, and Adel Al-Saraawi
spoke in her defense.
Subeih had to defend herself against allegations that she had attempted to deceive the nation when she denied a press report that three male students had been sexually assaulted by an Asian worker at a state school. She explained she had been misinformed and issued an apology.
Islamist lawmaker Saad al-Shreih also accused Subeih of not showing enough respect for Islam when she did not punish a 14-year-old girl who had allegedly drawn a cross on her religion text book and scribbled notes on it that she hated Islam. The minister told the house there was no evidence the girl had actually done that and so she was just referred to counseling. Shreih, however, still managed to gather the requisite signatures of ten lawmakers to force the no-confidence vote.
, Hussein AlـQallaf Al-Bahraini, Daifallah Bouramiya
, Mohammed Al-Obaid, Mohammed Hayef AlـMutairi, and Waleed AlـTabtabaie. Al-Barrak accused the Cabinet of speeding up the bill's passage for the benefit of monetary tycoons.
joined MPs Khaled AlـSultan Bin Essa, Hassan Johar, Al-Barrak, and Marzouq AlـHubaini Al-Azmi in formulating a bill to extend the mandatory retirement age for Kuwaiti teaching staff at Kuwait University from 65 to 70 years. They argued that Item 32 of Law no. 15/1979 has denied the country services of able and intelligent academicians by restricting retirement age of Kuwaitis to 65 years. They recommended that a clause be added to the law such that the retirement age can become 70 years and can further be extended to 75 years.
, Musallam Al-Barrak, Marzouq Al-Ghanim
, Jaaman Al-Harbash, Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, Mohammad Hayef Al-Mutairi, Ahmad Al-Saadoun, Nasser Al-Sane
, and Waleed Al-Tabtabaie
protested in front of the National Assembly building against the attacks by Israel
on Gaza
. Protesters burned Israeli flags, waved banners reading, "No to hunger, no to submission" and chanted "Allahu Akbar". Israel launched air strikes against Hamas
in the Gaza Strip on December 26 after a six-month ceasefire ended on December 18.
National Assembly of Kuwait
The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma , is the legislature of Kuwait. The current speaker of the Assembly is Jassem Al-Kharafi. The Emir unconstitutionally dissolved the National Assembly in 1986 and restored it after the Gulf War in 1992...
, representing the fourth district. Born in 1956, Al-Barrak studied Arab literature and worked in the Municipal Council before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996. While political parties are technically illegal in Kuwait, Al-Barrak affiliates with the Popular Action Bloc
Popular Action Bloc (Kuwait)
The Popular Action Bloc is a political bloc in Kuwait headed by veteran former Speaker Ahmed Al-Sadoun. The group focuses on populist issues like housing and salary raise, and reform...
. He is a member of the Mutairi tribe.
Redistricting Walkout
On May 15, 2006, Al-Barrak and twenty-eight other MPs walked out of parliament when the cabinet backed a motion to refer a redistricting reform bill to the constitutional court, which effectively meant delaying reforms.Al-Barrak then joined MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaie
Waleed Al-Tabtabaie
Waleed AlـTabtabaie is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the third district. Born in 1964-4-4, Al-Tabtabaie obtained a PhD in Islamic studies from Al-Azhar and was an assistant professor at Kuwait University before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996...
in urging opposition MPs to sign a reform document pledging to work to slash constituencies to five from the current 25 following the June 29 elections. All 333 candidates for parliament were asked to join the initiative by signing the Reform Charter. Al-Tabtabaie declared that, "The names of supporters will be published in the newspapers for voters to know who backs reform and who doesn't."
Critical of Yemeni President Saleh
On January 6, 2007, Al-Barrak called for halting foreign aid to YemenYemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
and other countries that have seen protests against the execution of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
. Al-Barrak strongly condemned the positions of Yemen, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
, Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
, and certain groups in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
that deplored Saddam’s execution and hailed him as a martyr. Al-Barrak ridiculed Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Field Marshal Ali Abdullah Saleh is the first President of the Republic of Yemen. Saleh previously served as President of the Yemen Arab Republic from 1978 until 1990, at which time he assumed the office of chairman of the Presidential Council of a post-unification Yemen. He is the...
and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
, calling them “the orphans of Saddam Hussein who will face the same dark fate." Al-Barrak was quoted by the Kuwait Times
Kuwait Times
Founded by Yousuf Saleh Alyan in September 1961, the Kuwait Times is the first English-language daily newspaper in the Persian Gulf region, based in Kuwait...
as saying, "Yemen’s president has said that Saddam’s execution is an insult to all Arabs and we say that it is an insult to all leaders who oppress their people. Saddam has gone to the dustbin of history while his orphans Saleh and Gaddafi wait for their dark fate." Al-Barrak went on to say he regretted the flow of Kuwaiti financial aid to Yemen and other countries, the latest of which was a $200m interest-free loan to Yemen: “It appears that our destiny is to increase aid and help to countries while they increase their insults towards us. We urge the government to defend the dignity of the Kuwaiti people."
Resignation of Oil Minister Bader Mishari al-Humaidhi
After Al-Humaidhi was appointed oil minister in the October 28, 2007, cabinet shuffle, Al-Barrak and Daifallah BouramiyaDaifallah Bouramiya
Daifallah Bouramiya is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the fourth district. Born in 1957, Bouramiya studied public health and worked in as a doctor before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. He is an independent Islamist deputy and a member of the Mutairi tribe...
wanted to question him about failing to curb consumer debts and embezzlement in state investments abroad during his time as finance minister. The prime minister pre-empted the parliamentary grilling and angered lawmakers who accused him of covering up corruption and undermining their constitutional right to question ministers.
The political standoff reached unprecedented levels when the prime minister and the speaker of the house, Jassem Al-Kharafi
Jassem Al-Kharafi
Jassem Al-Kharafi, , born in 1940, has been speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly since 1999. Al-Kharafi studied Business Administration at the Manchester Trade Faculty in Kuwait and was director of M. A. Kharafi & Sons before being elected to the National Assembly in 1975. He affiliates with...
, exchanged criticism and accusations in a television interview and a statement published in the country's newspapers.
Resignation of Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al-Sabah
On June 25, 2007, Al-Barrak, Abdullah Al-RoumiAbdullah Al-Roumi
Abdullah Al-Roumi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly from the first district. Born in 1949, Al-Roumi worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 1985. Al-Roumi is considered an independent, liberal-leaning member...
, and Adel Al-Saraawi
Adel Al-Saraawi
Adel Al-Saraawi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the third district. Born in 1962, Al-Saraawi studied accounting before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. He is considered an Independent deputy, but affiliates with the Islamist members...
accused Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al-Sabah of using his influence when he was chief executive officer of Kuwait's Burgan Bank to open accounts at the request of his cousin, in the names of paper companies so that they could be used for siphoning the stolen money. Minister Al-Sabah, who is a member of the royal family, resigned before a vote of no-confidence could be held against him. Transportation Minister Sharedah al-Mawashergi resigned in solidarity with the Oil Minister.
Criticized Education Minister Nouria al-Subeih
On January 22, 2008, the parliament voted 27-19, with two abstentions, against the impeachment of Education Minister Nouria al-Subeih.In the lead-up to the vote, Al-Barrak, Ali Al-Daqbaashi
Ali Al-Daqbaashi
Ali Al-Daqbaashi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the fourth district. Born in 1965, Al-Daqbaashi studied management before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. While political parties are technically illegal in Kuwait, Al-Daqbaashi affiliates with the Islamist...
, Saleh Ashour
Saleh Ashour
Saleh Ashour is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the first district. Born in 1952, Ashour studied economics and served in the Kuwaiti Air Force before being elected to the National Assembly in 1999...
and Hussein Muzyed spoke against the minister while Khalaf Al-Enezi
Khalaf Al-Enezi
Khalaf Al-Enezi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the second district. Born in 1952, Al-Enezi worked at the National Council before being elected to the National Assembly in 1981. Al-Enezi is an Independent deputy and is on good terms with the royal family...
, Ali Al-Rashid
Ali Al-Rashid
Ali Al-Rashid is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the second district. Born in 1967, Al-Rashid worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003...
, Mohammed Al-Sager
Mohammed Al-Sager
Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager is an award-winning journalist, former member of the National Assembly of Kuwait, and former chairman of the Arab Parliament.-Background:...
, and Adel Al-Saraawi
Adel Al-Saraawi
Adel Al-Saraawi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the third district. Born in 1962, Al-Saraawi studied accounting before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. He is considered an Independent deputy, but affiliates with the Islamist members...
spoke in her defense.
Subeih had to defend herself against allegations that she had attempted to deceive the nation when she denied a press report that three male students had been sexually assaulted by an Asian worker at a state school. She explained she had been misinformed and issued an apology.
Islamist lawmaker Saad al-Shreih also accused Subeih of not showing enough respect for Islam when she did not punish a 14-year-old girl who had allegedly drawn a cross on her religion text book and scribbled notes on it that she hated Islam. The minister told the house there was no evidence the girl had actually done that and so she was just referred to counseling. Shreih, however, still managed to gather the requisite signatures of ten lawmakers to force the no-confidence vote.
Opposed Guaranteeing Bank Deposits
On October 28, 2008, the parliament voted 50-7 to insure all types of deposits in all local banks within Kuwait. Al-Barrak opposed the bill, along with Jabir Al-AzmiJabir Al-Azmi
Jabir Al-Azmi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the fifth district. Born in 1970, Al-Azmi studied Sharia law and worked in at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs before being elected to the National Assembly in 2006. While political parties are technically illegal in...
, Hussein AlـQallaf Al-Bahraini, Daifallah Bouramiya
Daifallah Bouramiya
Daifallah Bouramiya is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the fourth district. Born in 1957, Bouramiya studied public health and worked in as a doctor before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. He is an independent Islamist deputy and a member of the Mutairi tribe...
, Mohammed Al-Obaid, Mohammed Hayef AlـMutairi, and Waleed AlـTabtabaie. Al-Barrak accused the Cabinet of speeding up the bill's passage for the benefit of monetary tycoons.
Mandatory Retirement Age for Teachers
On November 28, 2008, MP Abdullah Al-RoumiAbdullah Al-Roumi
Abdullah Al-Roumi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly from the first district. Born in 1949, Al-Roumi worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 1985. Al-Roumi is considered an independent, liberal-leaning member...
joined MPs Khaled AlـSultan Bin Essa, Hassan Johar, Al-Barrak, and Marzouq AlـHubaini Al-Azmi in formulating a bill to extend the mandatory retirement age for Kuwaiti teaching staff at Kuwait University from 65 to 70 years. They argued that Item 32 of Law no. 15/1979 has denied the country services of able and intelligent academicians by restricting retirement age of Kuwaitis to 65 years. They recommended that a clause be added to the law such that the retirement age can become 70 years and can further be extended to 75 years.
Protested Against Israeli Attacks
On December 28, 2008, Kuwaiti lawmakers Mikhled Al-AzmiMikhled Al-Azmi
Mikhled Al-Azmi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the first district. Born in 1961, Al-Azmi studied geography and worked in the Municipal Council before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996. While political parties are technically illegal in Kuwait, Al-Azmi...
, Musallam Al-Barrak, Marzouq Al-Ghanim
Marzouq Al-Ghanim
Marzouq Al-Ghanim is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the second district. Born in 1968, Al-Ghanim earned a BA in mechanical engineering and worked for Boubyan Petrochemicals before being elected to the National Assembly in 2006...
, Jaaman Al-Harbash, Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, Mohammad Hayef Al-Mutairi, Ahmad Al-Saadoun, Nasser Al-Sane
Nasser Al-Sane
Nasser Al-Sane is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the third district. Born in 1955, Dr. Al-Sane obtained a PhD in Business Administration before being elected to the National Assembly in 1992...
, and Waleed Al-Tabtabaie
Waleed Al-Tabtabaie
Waleed AlـTabtabaie is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the third district. Born in 1964-4-4, Al-Tabtabaie obtained a PhD in Islamic studies from Al-Azhar and was an assistant professor at Kuwait University before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996...
protested in front of the National Assembly building against the attacks by Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
on Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
. Protesters burned Israeli flags, waved banners reading, "No to hunger, no to submission" and chanted "Allahu Akbar". Israel launched air strikes against Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
in the Gaza Strip on December 26 after a six-month ceasefire ended on December 18.