KUWAIT: After the ban three ministries placed on photography, most Kuwaiti youth are a bit confused about what to do with their cameras if they can’t use them in public and why such laws were implemented in the first place. The Ministry of Information, Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Finance recently came to the conclusion that photography should be used for journalism purposes only. This has resulted in the ban of Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLRs) in public, on the streets and in malls

Shock and disappointment are the only two words that can describe how I feel when I read the title. A lot of countries have problems in the Middle East and our problems in Kuwait are piling up, but I always have hope, that things will get better that there will be a point for things to turn around. At this point I don’t think we can he any lower, we have hit rock bottom when three Ministries who have nothing to do with each other can decide to just Ban Photography of all kinds. And this is assuming that the law is enacted already, I hope it is not and still there is a chance to have it repelled. I always thought that Kuwait always had something to look forward to, to move ahead, even when we haven’t any major projects for the past decade, the nonstop cases of corruption and nobody getting prosecuted. The one thing I thought we had and that I am proud of is our Civil Liberties, and we pride ourselves with it. When Saudi Arabia is on an uphill battle trying to improve people’s lives and gain more freedom we are heading in the opposite direction. I always wondered what the thought was behind UAE blocking Flickr but now we have surpassed both Emirates and Saudi with the most idiotic law possible. Banning it in public places, in streets, and in malls, doesn’t this law sound illegal to anyone, and malls are private entities so it is illegal for such a law to affect them in this way. So what is the punishment for breaking this law? Getting thrown in jail? I honestly won’t be stopping my photography missions in Kuwait anytime soon. If you are against then please make your voice heard!

Link: KuwaitTimes