Kuwait to deport 15 Egyptians for pro-Sisi rally

A Kuwaiti government source said the country would deport 15 Egyptians who took part in an illegal rally in support of Egyptian presidential candidate Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. "Kuwaiti authorities are especially wary of political gatherings that could stir tensions in the Persian Gulf state, where expatriates make up around two-thirds of the 3.8 million population," Alakhbar reported. It said foreigners were not allowed to hold political events and there were restrictions on public rallies held by Kuwaitis. The source, who declined to be named, did not give further details. Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Watan said on Sunday that the said 15 were travelling by bus south of the capital on Saturday. "They were seen beating drums and waving while planned to join other Egyptians to express their support for Sisi before they were arrested by police." Egypt's presidential election is being held on May 26-27 and overseas voters have already started going to the polls. Officials at the Egyptian Embassy in Kuwait, which has been open for voting since Thursday, were not immediately available for comment. Major oil producer Kuwait welcomed the military's overthrow of Egypt's Islamist president Mohammed Mursi after mass protests and sent billions of dollars in financial aid to shore up the ailing economy. But like other Persian Gulf states it does not tolerate foreigners nor locals participating in politics in public. Last year it deported nine Egyptians who demonstrated against the army crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Mursi is a leading member.