The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has banned external flags at Husseiniyas except for the national flag and restricted cooking to approved schools for the upcoming Muharram season, according to an Arab Times report on Tuesday. The directives also require identification from all workers at the sites as part of enhanced safety protocols during the religious month.
The announcement detailed that no banners, canvases or flags bearing slogans will be permitted on the exterior of Husseiniyas. According to the ministry’s communication to owners, only the Kuwaiti flag is to be displayed in compliance with national law. This rule has been a recurring feature of security plans for the period in recent years. All Husseiniya operators have been notified to remove any non-compliant items immediately.
In addition to the flag policy, food preparation has been confined to schools that have obtained official approval for such activities from the relevant authorities, the report said. Arab Times said the ministry’s circular stressed the importance of using licensed facilities for all catering needs associated with the events. This applies to all food distributed during the commemorations. Participants will still be able to receive meals but they must originate from these approved sources only.
Kuwait Times reported separately that the Interior Ministry has also mandated that everyone working at the Husseiniyas must provide valid identification. This requirement is part of efforts to monitor and regulate activities at the sites during the sensitive period. The move comes amid routine reviews of security readiness at these locations each year.
A 2022 report on international religious freedom by the US State Department indicated that Kuwait maintains between 20 and 30 registered husseiniyas with the Ministry of Interior. The report added that the ministry dispatches an estimated 3,000 security personnel to secure husseiniyas and mourning gatherings during Muharram and Ashura. This level of deployment was initiated following a 2015 attack on a Shia mosque and has continued annually since then.
Similar joint inspection tours to review fire safety measures and security readiness at husseiniyas were carried out in July 2025, according to Kuwait Times. The tours involved multiple government agencies examining compliance with established protocols. Officials focused on fire extinguishing equipment, emergency exits and overall preparedness at the venues.
The guidelines have been communicated to community leaders across Kuwait. Kuwait Times and other local outlets have covered the issuance of these instructions in detail. Organizers are expected to pass on the information to volunteers and attendees well in advance of the observances.
