F r o m t he A r a bic pr e s sSUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015

It seems that the word FIFA stands for everlasting andendless corruption, especially after the collapse ofFIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter’s empire and the

possible consequences of retroactively opening the filesof corruption and bribes at such a powerful internation-al organization.

Corruption and details about it may remain mysteri-ous and might come to an end and its icons may ceaseto exist before the whole truth is reached, regardless ofefforts and investigations made to do so. The reason forthis does not only lie in the magnitude of corrupt ‘octo-pus-like’ systems, their financial power and legal cover-age, but it also lies in some political elements and con-flicting interests amongst influential parties or evenconflicting countries in a world with such complicatedrelations.

The modern FIFA empire might be even richer andmore powerful than most countries worldwide. Players’prices, their commercial deals, football playgrounds,sponsorships, ads, live coverage fees and finally, theWorld Cup, seem to be more like Ali Baba’s cave that isfull of jewelry.

This is usually done by hotshot thieves who neverdisagree on looting those assets but may only disagreeon how to split them and use them as tools to shapesome countries’ policies to serve their own interests.Otherwise, how can we explain the US decision to stickits nose, through its FBI, in the matter though football isnot the most popular game in the US? Why is Europe asingle lobby while Asia is divided and Africa still acts asa team and voting is now reflecting the political tenden-cies of the governments concerned in each lobby?

Where has such monitoring and transparency beenfor the past 20 years under Blatter and his friends - yearsduring which they made very suspicions fortunes ofover $150 million, which was particularly clear in thedecision to choose South Africa, Qatar and Russia tohost the World Cup? Why are suspicions only raisedabout those three countries despite the unrivalled suc-cess of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? Why mustEurope always monopolize World Cup finals?

Russia managed to win the 2018 World Cup fromBritain and Qatar won the 2022 World Cup againstAustralia, so why is hell open on FIFA now? The reasonmight be very obviously political, now that Europe ishaving a political war with Russia over Ukraine andsanctions failed to compel Moscow but contrarilyharmed Germany and it ‘sister’ countries. On the otherhand, the US’ disagreement with GCC countries isbecoming evident and it grew more concerned aboutthe role Qatar is regionally and internationally playing.As a result, the US wants to restrain GCC states and pres-sure them.

We are not, of course, clearing Blatter and his federa-tion, because just like many other private and govern-ment establishments, they act according to interestsand powers and there is hardly any of them that is clearof corruption. Nonetheless, the current war on FIFA is anew one in terms of international conflicts and reflectsinternational competition and polarization of allies topractice international domination, but this time, it isbeing done through the charming game of football!

— Translated by Kuwait Times

International FIFA conflict

Al-Jarida

By Dr Hassan Jouhar

Al-Jarida

The recently approved cybercrime law is anabsolutely up-to-date step towards enabling thestate to fight new types of techno-crimes resulting

from the excessive use of theinternet and data systemsworldwide, which resulted inthe spread of crimes. Theinternet has become a safehaven for terrorists, forgers,drug dealers, warmongers,religious and doctrinal insti-gators as well as those jeop-ardizing national security. Tofight such illegal use of theinternet, European countriesframed the BudapestConvention on Cybercrime in2001. According to an ITexpert, not joining the Budapest Convention makes astate a safe haven for cyber spies and active hackers. Tojoin it, any given country needs to have its own local leg-

islation and law on fighting cybercrimes. Joining the Budapest Convention enables a mem-

ber state to indentify users by getting their informa-tion, and this helps cyber-crime detectives trace andtrack down techno-crimi-nals. This does not, in anyway, pose a threat to liber-ties or freedom of expres-sion as it might instantlyappear. On the contrary,people wishing to expresstheir opinions can freely doso online because they usu-ally do so with their trueidentities, and so there is noneed to get any informationabout them. What this con-

vention really targets are the ‘ghosts’ hiding behindnicknames or fake names, and for these ghosts, thereis no freedom! — Translated by Kuwait Times

No freedom for ghostsAl-Jarida

By Salah Al-Sayer

The story started with the Hanging Gardens; thenthe crises became worse in the Nile Valley.Today, our story ends in Palmyra and we do not

know where the ‘cultural people’ are from this tragedyof our Arab civilization.

Away from Islam which did not prohibit sculptureor art as a whole, you who are claiming to beMuslims: Where are you from the ProphetMuhammad (PBUH) who did not ban art or culture?We did not read in our Islamic history that ourProphet (PBUH) destroyed the pyramids, and he is thebest example to follow. If art was prohibited, then itwould have been more appropriate for the Prophet(PBUH) to have destroyed history of previous civiliza-tions first so we can follow suit. But he did not do so.Rather, he respected other people and previous reli-gions. This is Islam, you who are acting in its nameand speak under its banner, you who come today todestroy the Arab nation’s civilization. Is it your plan toerase the historic landmarks of Arab countries in thename of Islam?

The blame, however, is not on you, but it is onthose who are saying they are the protectors of cul-ture, but are not fit for the task!

Our statements are a call from the heart; not only inthe name of culture but in the voice of the Arab identi-ty. Our calls come out of heartbreak; while we stay idlein front of the invaders as they threaten and besiegethe history of the Arab nation. Our hearts feel thepain; when we hear about and see the siege on thehistory and civilizations of our Arab identity, and failfind its defenders. Recently, many meetings con-demned and made demands; yet we did not see any-one say something on how to preserve our Arab civi-lization. We did not find a summit that shows how todevelop our culture and protect it from the extremists.

If we make a historic and civilized survey we willfind that the Arab world started many of theEuropean civilizations in addition to the Arab ones.We will find that the Arab world was a cradle, a forte,and a protector of many civilizations and foreign cul-tures before the state ones. Egypt hosted thepharaonic civilization and was the cradle of the heav-enly religions: Prophet Moses was born there, Jesustook refuge on its lands and the Prophet Mohammad(PBUH) married from its women. Our words are notlimited to Egypt, because what took place in Egypt,also happened in the Levant, Mesopotamia, and theArab peninsula.

The Arab nation carries within its history and landscountless treasures deep in history, so why have the Arableaders not met so far to protect their history that devel-oped their Arab identity? — Translated by Kuwait Times

Who saves Palmyra?

Al-Anbaa

By Nermin Al-Hooti

Parliament

Joining the BudapestConvention enables a mem-

ber state to indentify usersby getting their information,

and this helps cybercrimedetectives trace and track

down techno-criminals

Gulf Bank Al-Danahdaily draws winners

AnnouncedKUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al-Danah daily draws on May 31st,2015, announcing the names of its winners for the week of May24th to May 28th. The Al-Danah daily draws include draws eachworking day for two prizes of KD 1,000 per winner.

The winners were: (Sunday 24/5): Ibraheem Harbi Ali Al-Sadee, Kadhim Mahdi Al-Bahrani, (Monday 25/5): Hanif DawoodDesai Dawood Omar Desai, Naser Saleh Naser Al-Shayji,(Tuesday 26/5): Hammam Ismaeil Al-Bawwab, AbdulwahabOsama Rashede Al-Armali, (Wednesday 27/5): Malak FawziHassan Al-Taib, Jassmiyah Mohammed Abdullah Al-Qurashi,(Thursday 28/5): Sulaiman Thunaian Al-Ghanim, FatemahKhaled Yousef Al-Ali

Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah 2015 draw lineup includes daily draws(2 winners per working day each receive KD 1,000). Al-Danah’s2nd Quarterly draw will be held on 25 June (KD 250,000, KD125,000, and KD 25,000), 3rd Quarter - 17 September (KD500,000, KD 125,000, and KD 25,000). The final Al-Danah drawfor the Million Dinars will be held on 7 January, 2016 wherebythe Al-Danah Millionaire will be announced alongside winnersof KD 250,000 and KD 50,000.

Seven reasons why the Al-Danah account is the Best:1) Each year, every eligible account holder gets the oppor-

tunity to win Kuwait’s single biggest cash prize of KD 1 Million2) Customers’ chances are calculated on a daily basis and

added up for every draw. 3) Gulf Bank is the

only bank in Kuwait totransfer all of its cus-tomers’ Al-Danah loyaltychances from the previ-ous year into the nextone.

4) The Al-Danahaccount gives away thehighest amount of prizemoney

5) The daily draw hastwo winners drawn forevery working day, each

receiving KD 1,000.6) With 64 draws a year, and up to 532 winners, Gulf Bank’s

Al-Danah account offers you the highest number of draws andwinners

7) Al-Danah account also offers customers the best quarter-ly prizes, with quarterly prizes ranging from KD 25,000 up to KD500,000.

Open an account and Deposit now to Win Big, Live big, withAl-Danah 2015. Al-Danah also offers a number of unique servic-es including the Al-Danah Deposit Only ATM card which helpsaccount holders deposit their money at their convenience; aswell as the Al-Danah calculator to help customers calculate theirchances of becoming an Al-Danah winner.

Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah account is open to Kuwaitis and all resi-dents of Kuwait. Customers who open an account and/ordeposit more will enter the draw within two days. To take part inthe Al-Danah 2015 upcoming yearly draw, customers must havean Al-Danah account containing at least KD 200. To be part ofthe Al-Danah draws, customers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 58branches, transfer on line, or call the Customer Contact Centeron 1805805 for assistance and guidance. Customers can also logon to www.e-gulfbank.com/aldanahwinners, to find out moreabout Al-Danah and who the winners are.

Hamoud Moubarak Mezail Al-Shemari, Al-Danah winner,and Ali Al Barjawi, Gulf Bank’sFarwaniya branch manager.

E-visa system before year’s

end: UK envoyKUWAIT: British Ambassador to Kuwait Matthew Lodge said that theKuwaiti-British joint committee will convene in Kuwait on June 9 and10 to discuss issues of joint concern to both countries, including visa

exemption for Kuwaitis who visit the UK. Theissues also include health services provided byBritish health facilities in Kuwait, educationalservices provided by the British CulturalCouncil in Kuwait, military cooperationbetween both countries, the fight against ter-rorism, facilities needed by British companiesoperating in Kuwait, Kuwaiti investments in theUK, and scientific research through coopera-tion with Kuwait Foundation for theAdvancement of Sciences (KFAS) and KuwaitUniversity (KU).

Speaking in a recent interview with Kuwait local daily Al-Anbaa,Lodge also talked about his priorities as Ambassador, the new elec-tronic visa system, Kuwait security, British youth extremism, amongothers.

PrioritiesResponding to a question about the priorities on his agenda in

Kuwait, Lodge stressed that he would focus on investing in the youthand future generations, through education and training, as well asenhancing the UK’s economic relations with Kuwait. “Ever since I arrivedto Kuwait, I have noticed how deep UK-Kuwait relations are, and myrole is not only to maintain such relations, but also reinforce andenhance them,” he said, adding that his country provides great oppor-tunities and facilities to Kuwaiti students wishing to study in the UK.

New visa systemLodge also stressed that his country was seriously working on apply-

ing the new electronic visa system, which would help solve all previousproblems in the visa system used in all GCC states. He added thatexperts will arrive this summer to finish all technical preparations need-ed for the new system in collaboration with relevant authorities so that itcould be preliminarily put into practice before the end of the year.

SecurityIn addition, Lodge said that one of his priories was security cooper-

ation with Kuwait, especially at this critical period of regional tensionsand instability. “UK is keen on maintaining Kuwait’s security and stabili-ty through boosting our countries’ relations,” he said underlining thatthe UK’s relationship with Kuwait is not only one of friends and allies,but also one of partnership. He also said that he hopes Kuwait and UKwill finish the Eurofighter deal soon.

SectarianismMoreover, Lodge said that during his visits to Kuwaiti diwaniyas

and meetings with many citizens, he noticed a very positive thing con-cerning Sunnis and Shiites. “There are less sectarian calls and there isno difference whether I spoke to a Sunni or Shiite,” he said. Respondingto a question about some stateless people in the UK and plans toreturn them to Kuwait, Lodge refused to go into details but stressedthat with support from the foreign and interior ministries, some hadalready been returned while others were still for discussion during fur-ther meetings.

Responding to a question about why British youth extremismwas increasing though they lived in the ‘country of liberties,’ Lodgedenied any connection between the openness and liberties UK pro-vides and extremism. “Some parties, though, abuse the basic princi-ples my country provides such as freedom of speech to ‘poison’ somepeople’s minds and spread hatred and intolerance, which leads tohaving extremists,” added Lodge pointing out that his country fightsextremism, in general, and at the same time protect those [basic]principles. —Al-Anbaa

Matthew Lodge