Sep 11, 2012

The YouTube Salvation

Last week, many Kuwaitis were either shocked or thrilled by a YouTube video showing a group of young actors getting attacked by some unknown man. The video was uploaded anonymously but since state security men dress casually, people interpreted the video as being footage of a man from Kuwait’s interior ministry attacking the actors for their brave (or off-limits, as some find it) critique of socio-political issues in Kuwait.
Those who are xenophobic and/or in favor of playing the role of “morality police” were happy to believe that those young men were put out of action, while those in favor of free speech were highly disappointed. The latter found the video as evidence of how the government intimidates people for being openly and constructively critical of issues such as racism and corruption. It turns out the video was in fact just staged by the group to generate reactions. 

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