An Egyptian expatriate in Kuwait criticized Egypt's Embassy in Kuwait over their slow reaction to the murder of his cousin following a brawl with Kuwaiti citizens.
Wael Antar, the cousin of Ahmed Atef, who was reportedly run over by a car driven by Kuwaitis, labelled the Egyptian embassy in Kuwait as “weak”, adding that “Egyptians have no one to protect them or their rights.”
Antar told Mehwar satellite channel late Monday that his cousin worked at a shopping mall and that the suspected murderers engaged in an argument with him regarding an item's price.
“The Kuwaiti, backed by others, assaulted Atef and ransacked his shop before running away from other Egyptians working in the place,” said Antar. When the assailants were chased outside of the mall, a car sped towards them, killing Atef.
Kuwait's Interior Ministry said all 14 people involved in the case, including the driver, were arrested pending investigation.
Ziyad Jassem al-Kahbbaz, a Kuwaiti lawyer representing the Egyptian suspects, also urged the Egyptian Embassy to be more active in protecting its citizens, noting that Kuwaiti authorities were intending to deport ten Egyptians.
"Gulf nations are arrogant when dealing with Egyptians and dispose of them as they please," Khabbaz told Mehwar satellite channel.
The incident came a week after Kuwaiti authorities deported 18 Egyptians and five Syrians for allegedly beating a Kuwaiti citizen in the Al-Shuwaikh Industrial area on Sunday.
Egyptian diplomatic missions, especially in the Gulf region, have been under attack over the past few years for alleged inaction over problems involving Egyptian expatriates.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
