Saudi embassy in Kuwait warned citizens not to raise flags on vehicles amid controversy

The Saudi Embassy in Kuwait warned its citizens in the small Gulf country on Friday against raising flags of any country that is not Kuwait on their vehicles.

The warning came after Saudi Arabian activists shared videos online of the kingdom’s authorities allegedly seizing cars with the Kuwaiti flag raised on the Saudi Arabia's founding day, last Wednesday.

Saudi police allegedly stopped several vehicles carrying the Kuwaiti flag during its Foundation Day celebrations, while the Kuwaiti police stopped vehicles carrying various flags, including Saudi Arabia, Arabi 21 reported.

تود السفارة التنويه للمواطنين الكرام،بأن الأنظمة في دولة الكويت الشقيقة تنص على مخالفة وحجز أي مركبة تحمل أعلام دول أخرى،أو أي أعلام قبلية أو طائفية أو شعارات تدل على فئة أو جماعة أو أي كتابات أو ملصقات غير رسمية أو زوائد إضافية على الجزء الخارجي لجسم المركبة.وعلى ذلك جرى التنويه https://t.co/PyjjWwuvzB

— السفارة في الكويت (@KSAembassyKWT) February 24, 2023

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior also told its residents on Friday that according to Articles 207 and 52 of the regulations of its Traffic Law, it allows the "seizure of vehicles bearing flags of other countries, tribal flags, sects, emblems denoting a class or group".

It also warned against cars using "any unofficial writings, stickers, or additional appendages on the exterior of the vehicle’s body".

However, some activists weren’t happy with the announcements.

One activist referred to another who celebrated the news, as a "bully". 

Others asked for "God to have mercy on", or forgive, the decision. 

Activist and researcher in Gulf Affairs Fahad Al-Ghofaili posted a video of Saudi authorities allegedly seizing a car in the kingdom with a Kuwaiti flag.

مجموعة من شباب الكويت أحبوا أن يشاركوا أبناء المملكة فرحتهم بـ #يوم_التاسيس ، فشاركوا الاحتفالات ورفعوا علم بلادهم الكويت للتأكيد على التضامن بين أبناء الخليج.
وبدل أن يتم التفاعل معهم وإكبار روح التآخي... تم حجز سياراتهم كعقوبة على رفع علم الكويت!

أيّ عقلية تحكم بلدنا اليوم؟! pic.twitter.com/5pEzXuLzDx

— فهد الغفيلي (@fahadlghofaili) February 23, 2023

"A group of Kuwaiti youth loved to share their joy with the people of the Kingdom [on Founding Day], so they participated in the celebrations and raised the flag of their country… instead of exhalting the spirit of brotherhood… their card were seized!," Al-Ghofaili wrote.

"Which mentality rules our country today?!," he asked.

Others supported the Kuwaiti statement, stating the use of flags on vehicles contribute to the division of society.

"The chaos of flags must disappear. The tribal and sectarian flags that divide society must disappear," one activist wrote. 

Some also stated that the rules were important for safety reasons.