Latest news with #Islah
Kuwait Times
03-05-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
The defacing of Safat Mural - Jassim Al-Awadhi
Kuwait Times investigates changes to Jafar Islah's iconic public artwork and highlights need to safeguard public art and national heritage Jafar Islah is regarded as one of the early movers in Kuwait's contemporary arts movement. An inspirational artist with a unique style rooted in symbolism and imagery, Islah remained true to his artistic vision no matter where he lived — whether in Kuwait, Italy, France, Indonesia, Egypt, India, the United States, Turkey or elsewhere. 'My work was consistent wherever I lived," he says. "Travel only gave me the space I needed to be alone in order to finish a work of art.' Born in 1946, Islah began life with humble beginnings, working small jobs in his father's shop in Souq Al-Gharabally in Mubarakiya. Those early experiences planted the seed for his passion for using his hands, eventually making him a household name in the art world. Over the decades, he represented Kuwait internationally, with his works displayed in Kuwait, Spain, Indonesia and many other countries. Islah graduated with a BA from the renowned University of California, Berkeley in 1970, where he was exposed to major international artists such as R B Kitaj, Jerrold Ballaine and Jim Melchert. After attending the Royal Danish Academy as a visiting student, he returned to Kuwait to serve as Art Director for Alghanim Industries in 1972. 'Wall of Peace' Jafar Islah and Sultan Al-Qassemi on the first day of the Eid exhibition tour. Jafar Islah at Kuwait Times Jafar Islah at his sculpture 'Wall of Peace' (1985) Jafar Islah next to his work 'The Raiders are Here' at his latest exhibition. Looking back, when asked why he didn't continue in the corporate world, he said: 'I only wanted to be an artist,' adding, 'In commercial work, you are thinking of increasing market value — you are talking to the market, not to oneself.' His first solo exhibition was inaugurated by Yusuf Alghanim, founder of Alghanim Industries and a prominent businessman who helped found Kuwait's oil sector. Other notable figures who inaugurated his exhibitions include Abdulaziz Hussain (historical figure, ambassador and minister) and Ahmed Al-Adwani (founding Secretary General of the National Committee for Culture, Arts and Letters — NCCAL, poet and author of Kuwait's national anthem). Over his extensive career, Islah's works have been collected by prestigious institutions and figures such as the Arab Fund, National Bank of Kuwait, City of Seville, City of Florence, Kuwait National Museum, NCCAL, Kuwait Airways, Alghanim Industries, the late Anwar Al-Qatami, Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait and Nasrallah Behbehani. During a special viewing on the first day of Eid, Sultan Al-Qassemi, founder of Barjeel Art Foundation, remarked: 'Jafar Islah is not just a person but an institution,' recognizing his diverse artistic talents, international influence and storytelling prowess. Kuwait Times explored Jafar Islah's catalogue from his latest exhibition at the Contemporary Art Platform, "A Journey with Jafar Islah", where notable works include Ministry Complex (1981), Safat Mural (1982), Wall of Peace (1985) and Kuwait Thanks the World (1992). 'Kuwait Thanks the World' (1992) Cultural accountability But this article focuses on the Safat Mural (1982), commissioned through a competition under the patronage of then minister of finance Abdullatif Al-Hamad. Ten artists submitted proposals, and Islah's design — depicting Kuwait's heritage through imagery of palm trees and dark desert-inspired colors — won. The design was also chosen for its practicality in maintenance. However, in 2016, the ministry of finance transferred the Safat Square to the Kuwait Municipality for redevelopment. During renovations, the Safat Mural was altered without consulting Islah. Upon noticing the changes, Kuwait Times contacted the Public Utilities Management Company (PUMC), Kuwait Municipality and NCCAL to investigate. Discussions revealed that contractual obligations during the 2016 development led to the alteration. All involved parties acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, highlighting the need for greater respect for artists' intellectual rights. NCCAL invited Kuwait Times for further dialogue, expressing openness to corrective action. NCCAL has recently taken a proactive approach in reviving, preserving and promoting the arts. A key initiative, Al-Fenn Al-Thalith: The National Project for Mural Arts, could play a vital role in cataloguing all murals in Kuwait and ensuring proper care for national artworks like the Safat Mural. As the saying goes, 'there is no use crying over spilled milk'. The focus must now shift to systematically documenting and preserving Kuwait's murals and ensuring future development projects treat the country's artistic heritage with the care and respect it deserves. Through this article, Kuwait Times aims to contribute to these efforts, supporting NCCAL, future artists and Kuwait's cultural legacy.
Al Sahwa
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Sahwa
Islah Party Leadership Commends Hadramaut Tribal Authority's Efforts in Promoting Stability and Reconciliation
The leadership of the Yemeni Islah Party in the Hadramaut Valley and Desert has commended the Hadramaut Tribal Authority's efforts in promoting stability and reconciliation in the region. A high-level delegation from the Islah leadership, headed by Munir Bamhimoud, Secretary of the Executive Office of the Islah Party in the Valley and Desert, met with the head of the Hadramaut Tribal Authority, Sheikh Abdullah Saleh Al-Kathiri, to acknowledge their role in resolving conflicts and strengthening social cohesion. During the meeting, the Islah delegation praised the Reconciliation and Reconciliation Committee's efforts, led by Sheikh Yahya Balruwas, in resolving societal disputes and promoting coexistence and cooperation. They emphasized the need for urgent action to address the economic crisis and improve living conditions in Hadhramaut. Both sides stressed the importance of unity in restoring the state and ending the Houthi militia coup, which has exacerbated the suffering of Yemenis. They called for joint action to improve living conditions, achieve security, stability, and development, and ensure justice in the distribution of resources. The meeting was attended by several prominent leaders, including Sheikh Jumaan bin Saad and members of the Supreme Administrative Council of the Marja'iyya. This development highlights the ongoing efforts to promote stability and reconciliation in Yemen, and the importance of cooperation between different stakeholders to address the country's challenges.
Al Sahwa
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Sahwa
Islah official Al-Saqqaf: Mahra Nees No Amassing of Militias
The Head of the Islah party's branch office in Mahra, Salem Al-Saqqaf, has unequivocally stated that the eastern Yemen governorate does not require external military interventions, which could potentially destabilize the governorate and plunge it into chaos. This assertion is particularly noteworthy, given the current context of amassing of militias into the governorate. Al-Saqqaf emphasized that the local residents of Al-Mahra have borne witness to the tangible successes achieved by the security and military services in recent times, both at border crossings and within the districts. He underscored the importance of supporting and assisting these official security services to further enhance their accomplishments. In a statement published on the Al-Islah Net website, Al-Saqqaf highlighted Al-Mahra's reputation as a bastion of coexistence, emphasizing its rejection of regional division policies. He also cautioned that the pursuit of marginal interests and regional agendas at the expense of Yemeni national interests serves only to bolster the Iranian-backed Houthi project in Yemen. Interestingly, Al-Saqqaf's statement comes amidst the complex dynamics of the Yemeni conflict, where the purported regional adversary of Houthi rebels seeks to undermine what remains of the government's control with a view to serving the Houthi agenda.
Al Sahwa
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Sahwa
Islah Party Hosts Annual Iftar in Mukalla Amidst Large Turnout
The Islah party office in coastal Hadramaut hosted its annual Iftar in Mukalla, Yemen, on Monday evening, drawing a large crowd of officials and community members. The event featured prominent figures, including members of the Shura Council, Dr. Salem Ahmed Al-Khanbashi, and Muhammad Abdullah Al-Hamed ¹. Mohammed Ahmed bin Ziyad, head of the Islah executive office in Hadhramaut, delivered a speech emphasizing the need for unity and cooperation among the people of the governorate. He called for urgent meetings to address the region's crises, improve services, and combat corruption. Bin Ziyad also stressed the importance of local authorities taking responsibility for managing state resources, finding solutions to the electricity crisis, and bringing those involved in corruption to justice. He rejected any military or security formations outside official state institutions and denounced extrajudicial arrests. The event included a speech by Sheikh Abdullah bin Alawi Al-Maqdi, who highlighted the virtues of Ramadan and the importance of cooperation and brotherhood. A poem by Nabil Ali Bakir about the Islah approach was also recited.
Saba Yemen
03-03-2025
- Saba Yemen
Young man dies under torture in Islah militia prison in Marib
Marib - Saba: A young man from Jawf province Abdullatif Jameel Rashid al-Jumaili has died as a result of alleged torture in prisons operated by Islah militias in Marib city, according to local sources. The sources told Saba News Agency that al-Jumaili was detained three months ago. While his family sought his release, they reportedly discovered his body discarded on a Marib city street, wrapped in a blanket and showing signs of physical and psychological torture. The victim's family is now calling upon tribal leaders from Dhu Ghailan and Dahham, as well as all Yemeni tribes, to convene and investigate the circumstances of his death. They are demanding that those responsible be identified and held accountable. This incident has provoked widespread condemnation. Reports indicate this is the third such death within Islah militia detention centers in Marib within the past month. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (Local)
