Kuwait’s emir Sheikh Nawaf laid to rest in low-key funeral
- Sheikh Nawaf, 86, died on Saturday. Foreign leaders paid their respects, including the Saudi crown prince and the rulers of Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan
- The new emir, Sheikh Meshal, a security expert and the half-brother of the late ruler, is expected to deliver his oath before parliament on Wednesday
Kuwait’s emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who was defence minister when Iraq invaded the oil-rich country in 1990, was laid to rest on Sunday in a low-key funeral, a day after he died aged 86.
Draped in a Kuwaiti flag, the coffin of Sheikh Nawaf, whose cause of death was not disclosed, was carried into a Kuwait mosque for prayers ahead of a burial ceremony that was broadcast on state television.
Attendance was largely limited to ruling family members, making for an intimate farewell for the emir who reigned for three years.
“The choice reflects the late emir’s low-profile character,” said Bader al-Saif, a history professor at Kuwait University.
The new emir, Sheikh Meshal, a security expert and the half-brother of the late ruler, will receive condolences on Monday and Tuesday from the public and is expected to deliver his oath before parliament on Wednesday.
During the burial ceremony, also attended by the speaker of parliament, rows of relatives gathered at Sheikh Nawaf’s final resting place and performed prayers. Some crouched before his grave, cupping their hands and reciting Koran verses.