I received this sad story through email from an Asian expat who works in Kuwait and had no one to turn to.
I am an Asian expat working for a newspaper. I am young, well-educated, decent but middle-class female. Why did I write ‘but middle-class’? Because no one cares about women like me. We have money but we cant get licenses even if we can afford cars because they fail us purposely at license tests. I am angry now because of what happened to me and don’t know who to blame.
On 4th August 2012 at 10:20 PM after work, I took bus # 88 from Shuwaikh Canada Dry Street to come to Maidan Hawally. I was the only female in the bus, later a noisy bunch of Arab teenagers rushed into the bus, I was sitting at the side seats, reading Arab Times.. I heard something ripping and I looked to my left at the boys to see one among them ripping the curtains. He also spit in the bus. when he looked up and saw me looking at him, I turned away quickly as I didnt want to get their attention. To be honest, their unruliness made me nervous. Then they began to pick the garbage in the bus and throw at me; I saw it fall around me but I didn’t bother. I continued to read and I felt a juice pack hit my face.
As I turned it towards them, one of the guys came to me and shouted in Arabic , he ripped the newspaper away from my hands and said
F… Youand he slapped me. As they were leaving, they slapped me, spit on me and yelled outF… you. This experience was really traumatizing for me, I felt humiliated, the other men in the bus didn’t bother to help, and to add to my humiliation, they sneered at me as though I taunted them and it was my fault.I spoke to the bus driver and he said many kids (14-17 years old) create problems for passengers very often; they stand in front of the bus while the bus is moving which forces the bus to sudden brake. If the driver refuses to open the door, they bang on the door till he opens it.. and then they hit the bus driver but since most bus drivers are Asian expatriates, they don’t fight back. Passengers cannot travel after 9 PM, taking a taxi late evening alone is dangerous as there have been several incidents of women getting molested and using buses is difficult because of these unruly teenagers who get to travel for free. This is the everyday situation in Kuwait for middle class women. what do we do?
I’m speechless! There were gross stuff in the story that I couldn’t even share on the blog, I’m shocked to know that Kuwait buses are filled with horror and yet no action what so ever was taken. Where are the police? Where is the bus security? Why driving license is given to the unworthy and not those who deserve it?
This is inappropriate, disrespectful and humiliating for any individual. Whether it be a male, female, and of any background. Im not surprised to read that such behavior takes place, it is disgusting and I hope we will circulate this incident so it comes to the public attention and action is taken against this. Expatriates are treated differently and everyone knows that, but to be treated like this is extremely aggravating as much as it is a stab on one’s self esteem. Im sorry this happened to this lady i hope those teenage boys come to their senses and may they be guided to the right path.
They should put kuwaiti guards on the buses. I’d volunteer. Show those kids some dam discipline which their parents cant even do. A smack or two would sort them out quickly.
This is the best solution. I’d volunteer as well.
+1 excellent suggestion
Yeah. Some of my cousins do that and it pissed me off. What these kids need is fear of Allah SWT.
Their parents need to educate them.
Sad story but I’m sure it does happen, I dunno about solutions but I’ll tell you about Sweden, in 2007 or 2006 I don’t remember there was a case reported in a Bus, it was a thief who snatched a lady’s bag or something, She didn’t go to the police instead she went to the media and supported her story with witnesses, It’s not that huge story right? I mean it could’ve happened anywhere..
Since then, every single Bus, Tram, Train, Fiery has at least 6 Cameras in them and all are monitored around the clock by a specialized department who’s job is only watch and act in case of emergency.
I think that’s the only solution around here, even if they just install fake cameras, people will think twice before they do anything stupid as above.
I’m sorry for the Lady in your story, I feel her pain and I wish someone do something so such things doesn’t happen in the future.
Very bad! No comment.
Shame on us all kuwaities who comes to this website and don’t share this ugly story with evey one , I am calling the news papers to read
It and publish it via banana kuwait .
Bro, please do so coz its increasing. One of my friend got stabbed by knife when he tried to defend himself from theses teenagers
really very sad…in Arab people usually they did not beat there children because they are small and give flexibility …but unfortunately they forget to teach manners and to behave with other..from which the children take advantage.
everyone bear this its Kuwait no rules for middle class.
we all are in same row.
So sad and shame on them! I have been reading many stories about undisciplined teens and young adults, take 360 mall chandelier as example, and now this and many others to come, parents should know better how to raise their children better.
+1 the problem starts in the home itself
Kuwait public transport if filled with this kind of s$#ts,,,i have personally faced all this…this is one journey. woman face this everyday. there are times when young kids specially from age( 14-18) do this kind of stuff. it is not unusual to see fighting, smoking, racial abuse e.t.c from them. the problem is these are some from the schools and some i don’t know( may be vagabonds). there should be a moral science subject in the school plus parenting is essential. i don’t think these kids have ever been taught right.
i remember a incident in salmiya where couple of kids where abusing Indians inside the bus calling them all kind of vulgar and filthy language. the people didn’t respond then they started with woman. then the driver stopped and the fight started. they threw the kids out but the kids managed to find some stones and started hitting the bus and the people inside it.
the country has deprived people from its social rights especially low income people.the government has set up language barrier even if they go to ask for help, by this way the gap gets higher and soon one day if the flood enters the house of the people the expatriate will only watch .
Some drivers don’t let there Arab kids in groups in the age group of 14-17 to the bus because face it..we all know they are just going to bring trouble to the passengers.the govt should install cctv cameras on each bus as a mandatory rule so as to ensure nothing like this happens. I really hope atleast after this incident the concerned authorities will take the necessary action to prevent these kinds of inconvenience travelling by bus.
Oh my god…my heart goes out to this lady.no women no matter her race, background or anything etc should go through such abuse.these kids should not think that just because expats dont retaliate does not give them licence to abuse them.I seriously blame the parents…would they dare raise their hand on any of their female relatives like this…really sadden by this article..
Damn good some1 had the guts to share such an article. These ruthless Arab buggers should be thought a lesson!
Kuwait Government should take strict actions right away whatsoever!
arabs; what can you do they just got lucky and are sitting on a pile of money, some how gives them the right to do this =) I say let them enjoy while they can. when their time comes we shall see to it don’t worry. Nothing lasts forever and their time is near.
Absolutely disgraceful.
Poor girl. Perhaps if the government gave these women licences instead of indian / bengali drivers that can’t drive and cause so many accidents. I realise that what I have just said may annoy people as it may seem like an opinion, and yes, it is an opinion, but, lets be honest, the majority of accidents are caused here by drivers that have no care whatsoever. Just today, a black yukon drove past me, indian driver, two kids in the back and he was doing at least 140, swerving in and out of cars – If those were my kids in the back seat, I’d kick that driver’s ***.
It’s awful that women like this are purposely denied licences and have to put up with this humiliation.
These boys should be ashamed of themselves and their fathers should take their gutras to them and show them how to act like a real man.
LOL welcome to middle east I got a solution do what I am doing leaving AND NEVER RETURINING. This is a place where you get no respect, right, freedom, but a big piece of CRAP
So either you learn to carry arab balls and waste your life here or go elsewhere where you will live among humans 
Yes, BananaQ8 has not posted the entire story as it is gross. It is a pity such things happen to women who use the public facilities.
The victim is my friend and she told me she had given a statement to Arab Times and Al-Seyassah newspaper reporters; so we can expect a newspaper article on this tomorrow or the day after.
Something should be done so that these teenagers will realize that they cannot get away with mistreating women in Kuwait irrespective of what race they belong to.
Glad thath this article will be published on newspaper so government can take serious actions to stop this reckless inhumane acts!
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/186541/reftab/36/Default.aspx
Way to go!
Great!
These kids are smart enough to not harass a muhajaba babe- they only go after women wihtout a veil and that too, mostly if they are Asian because they know they can get away with it. Hard to imagine a Kuwaiti or a Western expat woman taking public transportation in Kuwait but even if they did they wouldn’t be manhandled the way this poor woman was. I do not think being middle class has anything to do with it: it’s all about the ethnicity. Much of the teenage riffraff in Kuwait grow up thinking all Asians are poor and blue collared who need to be kept on a tight leash: a lesson they have picked up at home seeing the adults misbehaving with their maids, drivers and cooks. Actually, it’s their parents who could use a smacking or two for unleashing these little monsters on to the Kuwaiti high street.
In a sense what we see happening for many in Kuwait or Saudi is not very different from a day in the life of a Negro slave living in the deep American south in the 18 th century.
The only effective solution or counter strategy to juvenile delinquency, I would think, is to rope in the Islamist preachers who can give their congregation a healthy dose on public conduct and civil behavior during the Friday sermons.
Westerns got a bad image of us Muslims because of people like them, they should understand that this will cause serious problems. Since it’s now the age of Media. Wastas won’t help for sure.
I feel so bad about what happened to the lady. I can understand what she feels as I was also a victim of harassment of these undisciplined young monsters in the street. I am living near my working place so I supposed to say that I am lucky for not using the public transport but the reality is there is no security for a lady walking alone in the street whether it is a daytime. I have experienced many incidents like this humiliating me and telling the Arabic word “KAMSA”. It is traumatizing, it is better to stay at home most of the times just to stay safe. I just pray to God that may these young kids find the right path. I really pity them as they are financially rich and yet so poor of good morals. May the parents show their perfect love to them, disciplining them does not mean hitting them. Who will be the next leaders of Kuwait if these young people will not be taught properly?
7raaam
@Achmed
‘ achmed says:
August 7, 2012 at 9:33 PM
arabs; what can you do they just got lucky and are sitting on a pile of money, some how gives them the right to do this =) I say let them enjoy while they can. when their time comes we shall see to it don’t worry. Nothing lasts forever and their time is near.’
Go get a life ACHMED- hate the crime, not the people, and don’t be so bloody jealous of ‘people who have money’….you are as pathetic as the low life who attacked this girl.
this is really sad and the worst part is getting a lisence , in a country where transport is a necessity i dont understand why they dont issue one to expats… and no body seems to cares about it . travelling in buses and taxis for unaccompanied females can b dangerous. I hope one day ministry realizes this
….
The story of this lady is tearing my heart. I know many undocumented incidents had happened regarding this bus incident due to juvenile delinquency. And this incident had happened in this Holy Month of Ramadan.
I’m in favor on the solutions mentioned above (especially putting bus security or cctv cameras). If no government actions will be done soon, I think many incidents like this will happen since the government had already increased the payment in getting new or renewing car licenses for the expats which will prompt them to use public utility buses.
The only other solution is making public transportation fashionable getting the South Surra, Jabreya and the Dahiyat Abdalla Salam-set take Citibus to and from work, oftener. You will see that will sort things out, to some extent, for damsels who find themselves in distress.
And thanks Tazmania for the extraordinary courage you’ve shown posting about this horrific incident and I am sure it’s only the tip of the iceberg here(not the boutique): for every one such incident which makes it to the broadsheets, blogs or twitter there are at least nine others that are conveniently swept under the rug.
This is not a courage my dear friend, this is our commitment to our dear visitors, we encourage all our visitors to share their experiences with us all the time and they can use us to reach for the public and media, the story has really saddened us and sharing it was a most.
Thanks for your thoughtful words.
This is deja vu for anyone that’s lived in Great Britain- nothing Great about it anymore! You do see such things happening there all the time with yobs who make up a substantial demographic of the Queen’s fiefdom. I am not condoning such behaviour and actions. All I am saying is only difference is their system of redressal: no law enforcement officer there is going to judge the merit of your plaint on the basis of whether you are an ajnabee, and a kafir at that when you go to the police station to file a complaint.
The trouble is no sane expat in Kuwait will ever want to have anything to do with the shurti even if their life depended on it period. Such is the fear and mistrust expats have for KWPD and programs such as, You and the Law haven’t been helping much.
Arabic
Balungiseni bafana bakitsi bey ana kakhulu labo banftu
Abatjukutjwe ,etikwabo majaha
Somebody should beat these little boys till get some senses into them.
Has the govt taken any action?
How to contact them?
What is the solution??? What needs to be done???
Most of the time, most of the trouble makers are, unfortunately, Kuwaiti kids. Irrespective of nationality, we know there are thousands of people in Kuwait who will be willing to rise to the occasion and contribute their intelligence & time to resolve such a petty but menacing issue. We in large numbers, need to keep informing the relevant authorities. Some of the patriotic Kuwaitis in this forum have very rightly & very kindly offered to volunteer. Thank you. This site may be a good portal to launch an organization to patrol this small country & keep it as a friendly & safe country and not to let a bunch of stupid, illiterate kids to ruin the name of this country.
This type of Juvenile misbehavior has been going on for decades(you will surely find at least one regular bus traveler in Kuwait who will confirm this fact)…
It can also be safely assumed that when the glass of the bus is broken (by the stones pelted by these ill-behaved juveniles) the bus company management ‘most definitely gets to know the incident behind it’..
Whether they get to know about the fact that the bus Drivers are beaten at times will depend on whether the bus driver reports it
What is surprising is the lack of action on the part of the Bus company management..
1) They are neither protecting their passengers from abuse
2) Nor are they protecting their buses from abuse
In my opinion the incompetence of the bus company management is the issue at hand..
Surprise bus journeys undertaken by plain clothes policemen along random bus routes.. catching them in the act will help..
This is essential in order to make the kids ‘realize that they are accountable for their actions’…
what the kids are doing on you tube..is making nobody proud..
taking video is the biggest foolish mistake she did. she should not have acted smart
So what do you expect her to do while those boys were throwing the garbage at her and noone was stopping them? You expect her to stand up and yell at them and get double slapped and spit at? Or you expect her to tell the driver to take the bus to police station when he admitted that he himself is scared of the boys? And if he did agree, you think a bunch of unruly 15-year-old boys wouldnt hurt him and her? What do u suggest SAN? That she take the shit that is happening to her? atleast thru this video, we know for sure she was not faking about travelling in a bus that night ya?
silly Sianna ,thank god it was only garbage and it was not acid.
elaborated
http://www.bloggermathai.com/blog/kuwait/i-was-harassed-by-shababs-inside-a-bus/
Hey Tazmania, just wanna say an article was been published about my friend in Al-Seyassah daily on Sunday, 26th August in the people’s complaint section. Apparently some officials from Interior Ministry are trying to contact her to get the details. Lets hope this means we can expect a change. Will update you guys…