Jassem Al-Kharafi
Encyclopedia
Jassem Al-Kharafi, born in 1940, has been speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly
since 1999. Al-Kharafi studied Business Administration at the Manchester Trade Faculty in Kuwait and was director of M. A. Kharafi & Sons
before being elected to the National Assembly in 1975. He affiliates with the liberal deputies and is regarded as a pro-government moderate. However, Al-Kharafi has broken with the royal family on occasion. He recently criticized the ruling Al-Sabah family
, and in July 2006 he vigorously denounced the Israeli attacks on Lebanon
saying that the war would "turn us all into terrorists".
Al-Kharafi's family is famously wealthy. His brother Nasser
is listed by Forbes as one of the richest people in the world. University of Tirana
on 7 October 2011 gave the title Honoris Causa.
In response, Prime Minister Nasser issued a statement about Al-Kharafi to the state-owned Kuwait News Agency, which was splashed on the front pages of daily newspapers. In the statement, PM Nasser said that Al-Kharafi was overstepping in bounds in trying to influence cabinet selections: "I have no doubt that .... the speaker realizes that his attempts to interfere in forming the Cabinet and affecting its decisions is overstretching his constitutional mandate."
The back-and-forth marked the first such public tensions between a speaker and a prime minister.
on the nuclear issue. In his interview with state-owned Kuwait TV, Al-Kharafi said, "What is happening is that there are provocative Western statements, and Iran responds in the same way... I believe that a matter this sensitive needs dialogue not escalation, and it shouldn't be dealt with as if Iran were one of America's states."
The meeting was held on June 30, 2008, to discuss the latest US State Department report that accorded Kuwait a tier three status on trafficking in people for its treatment of domestic helpers and foreign workers. Later, head of the committee Waleed Al-Tabtabai said the meeting was held on the basis of a request by the embassy and that the committee has not "overstepped the authorities of the speaker or the foreign ministry," adding that the committee had received similar requests in the past.
The US embassy officials were reported to have refused to discuss the US decision to freeze the assets of the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society.
National Assembly of Kuwait
The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma , is the legislature of Kuwait. The current speaker of the Assembly is Jassem Al-Kharafi. The Emir unconstitutionally dissolved the National Assembly in 1986 and restored it after the Gulf War in 1992...
since 1999. Al-Kharafi studied Business Administration at the Manchester Trade Faculty in Kuwait and was director of M. A. Kharafi & Sons
M. A. Kharafi & Sons
M.A. Kharafi & Sons is a large private company based in Kuwait with a variety of commercial interests and revenues for 2006 estimated at USD$3.3 billion. The company is presently run by Nasser Al-Kharafi...
before being elected to the National Assembly in 1975. He affiliates with the liberal deputies and is regarded as a pro-government moderate. However, Al-Kharafi has broken with the royal family on occasion. He recently criticized the ruling Al-Sabah family
Al-Sabah
The House of Al Sabah is the ruling family of Kuwait. They are a clan from the Anizah tribe which migrated to Kuwait in the early 18th century from Najd . They are also from the Utub tribe. After reaching Kuwait, they entered in an alliance with the other families of the Utub such as Al-Khalifa...
, and in July 2006 he vigorously denounced the Israeli attacks on Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
saying that the war would "turn us all into terrorists".
Al-Kharafi's family is famously wealthy. His brother Nasser
Nasser Al-Kharafi
Nasser Al-Kharafi was a Kuwaiti businessman of M.A. Kharafi & Sons. His company has performed $4.3 billion in sales. His net worth increased because of rising share prices of several holdings including Mobile Telecommunications Co., National Bank of Kuwait and Americana, operator of U.S. fast...
is listed by Forbes as one of the richest people in the world. University of Tirana
University of Tirana
The University of Tirana is a public university located in Tirana, Albania.-History:UT was founded in 1957 as the State University of Tirana through the merging of five existing institutes of higher education, the most important of which was the Institute of Sciences, founded in 1947...
on 7 October 2011 gave the title Honoris Causa.
Public Dispute with Prime Minister Nasser
On November 3, 2007, Al-Kharafi told the pan-Arab Arabiya television in an interview that he had "question marks" about Prime Minister Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah's decisions. A transcript of the interview was published in Alrai daily, which included Al-Kharafi's comment that too many reshuffles necessitate "a review and an evaluation of what measures should be taken." Al-Kharafi said the reshuffle should not have been put off for the whole summer and that it indicated a "policy of patching" up problems, rather than solving them.In response, Prime Minister Nasser issued a statement about Al-Kharafi to the state-owned Kuwait News Agency, which was splashed on the front pages of daily newspapers. In the statement, PM Nasser said that Al-Kharafi was overstepping in bounds in trying to influence cabinet selections: "I have no doubt that .... the speaker realizes that his attempts to interfere in forming the Cabinet and affecting its decisions is overstretching his constitutional mandate."
The back-and-forth marked the first such public tensions between a speaker and a prime minister.
"West is Provoking Iran"
On July 13, 2008, Al-Kharafi publicly accused the West of "provoking" IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
on the nuclear issue. In his interview with state-owned Kuwait TV, Al-Kharafi said, "What is happening is that there are provocative Western statements, and Iran responds in the same way... I believe that a matter this sensitive needs dialogue not escalation, and it shouldn't be dealt with as if Iran were one of America's states."
Criticism of Human Right Committee's Neglect of Protocol
On July 1, 2008, Al-Kharafi blasted the assembly's human rights committee for holding a meeting with US embassy officials without asking permission from the speaker in accordance with protocol rules. Khorafi blamed the US embassy for committing a "procedural mistake" by accepting an invitation by phone, insisting that "the embassy should have told the committee that such meetings could not be arranged through this way and should have followed the right diplomatic procedures."The meeting was held on June 30, 2008, to discuss the latest US State Department report that accorded Kuwait a tier three status on trafficking in people for its treatment of domestic helpers and foreign workers. Later, head of the committee Waleed Al-Tabtabai said the meeting was held on the basis of a request by the embassy and that the committee has not "overstepped the authorities of the speaker or the foreign ministry," adding that the committee had received similar requests in the past.
The US embassy officials were reported to have refused to discuss the US decision to freeze the assets of the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society.
External links
- Kharafi parliament's profile
- A 2003 Interview
- We Are Grateful to the U.S. for Liberating Kuwait but the Americans Are Patronizing aired on Al-Majd TV on 21 January 2007