Cultural celebrations to emphasize Muslims' true image - NCCAL official

KUWAIT, April 10 (KUNA) -- Improving Muslims' image is a priority of the celebrations of the Kuwait Capital of Islamic Culture 2016 after it has been hugely distorted by being linked to terrorism, a National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) senior official has said Sunday said.
Kuwait has been elected Capital of Islamic Culture 2016 by the ministers of culture in the Muslim countries, NCCAL Assistant Secretary General of the Mohammad Al-Asosui, told a press conference at Kuwait Journalist Association on Sunday.
He added that over the year Kuwait would lavish further efforts to promote tolerance and moderation, and humanitarian work.
Al-Asosui referred to the UN honoring of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a "Humanitarian Leader" and Kuwait as a "Humanitarian Center." As a capital of the Arab culture in in 2001, Kuwait exerted remarkable efforts on the cultural scene, he said.
The NCCAL senior official said that choosing Kuwait as Capital of Islamic Culture 2016 is an occasion to be invested to emphasize the country's civilized image and huge cultural contributions.
This is a national effort, not only confined to the NCCAL which plays the coordinator, Al-Asosui said, noting that it involves various state bodies, the private sector and civil society organizations.
Celebrations took off in January, together with the Al-Qurain 22nd Cultural Festival , and was generously sponsored by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who attended the ceremony.
His Highness the Premier chairs the higher ministerial committee of the celebrations.
Over the first three months of the year, up to 300 activities were organized, almost three daily, Al-Asosui said, adding that the celebrations would not be confined to the local scene, as cultural weeks are planned to be organized overseas to introduce the Kuwaiti culture.
To begin with, arrangements will be made for a Kuwaiti cultural week in Palestine, he said. (end) akw.msa