Abdullah Al-Roumi
Encyclopedia
Abdullah Al-Roumi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly
from the first district
. Born in 1949, Al-Roumi worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 1985. Al-Roumi is considered an independent, liberal-leaning member.
violence, the parliament unanimously passed a law giving police wide powers to search for and seize illegal weapons. Al-Roumi was one of the main proponents of the bill, which makes it easier for police to obtain a warrant to search a private house for illegal weapons. The law also allows female inspectors to search women's quarters in private homes—quarters which are off limits to men according to Islamic rules.
The parliament passed a similar law in 1992 to deal with a jump in gun ownership after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait
. Lawmakers refused to extend that law in 1994, arguing that possession of weapons was a right.
, and Musallam Al-Barrak
led impeachment proceedings against Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al Sabah on charges of corruption. Al-Roumi alleged that Sheik Ali intimidated a witness in the case. The minister swore that he called the witness for a meeting to tell him to provide all the information he has in the case. Sheik Ali resigned on June 27, after being publicly questioned and before a no-confidence vote could be held.
During the impeachment proceedings, Al-Roumi also made the following public statement against Sheik Ali: "You have to submit your resignation today because what you said has humiliated the Kuwaiti people." Sheikh Ali had been quoted by the local Al Qabas newspaper as saying that he considers former oil minister Sheikh Ali Khalifa Al Sabah, a defendant in a major graft case, as "my master and that I consult him occasionally on oil issues."
, under which expatriates must be sponsored by a local employer to get a work permit: "The government should be the only kafeel... We have scores of bachelors residing in Kuwait with an equal number of crimes. Many are caused due to the 'trading with humans' issue which taints the reputation of Kuwait."
in response to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
and was quoted as saying, "No Muslim can accept this insult against the Prophet... It is a form of terrorism."
was re-elected National Assembly Speaker on Sunday, after gaining 52 votes against 11 to his opponent, Abdullah Al-Roumi.
. On September 28, 2008, MPs Abdullah Al-Roumi, Marzouq Al-Ghanem, Ali Al-Rashid
, and Adel Al-Saraawi
proposed a law to have the government pay half of Kuwaiti students' tuition at these private colleges.
, and Marzouq Al-Hubaini in formulating a bill to extend the mandatory retirement age for Kuwaiti teaching staff at Kuwait University from 65 to 70 years. Al-Roumi argued that Item 32 of Law no. 15/1979 has denied the country services of able and intelligent academicians by restricting retirement age of Kuwaitis to 65 years. He recommended that a clause be added to the law such that the retirement age can become 70 years and can further be extended to 75 years.
National Assembly of Kuwait
The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma , is the legislature of Kuwait. The current speaker of the Assembly is Jassem Al-Kharafi. The Emir unconstitutionally dissolved the National Assembly in 1986 and restored it after the Gulf War in 1992...
from the first district
Kuwait's First District
Kuwait's first district comprises nineteen residential areas starting from Sharq and Dasma, passing through Salmiya and Rumeithiya and including Bayan, Meshrif and Hawally among others. It has a total of 66,641 voters of whom 36,571 are women and 30,070 are male...
. Born in 1949, Al-Roumi worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 1985. Al-Roumi is considered an independent, liberal-leaning member.
Pro Gun Control
In February 2005, in the wake of a wave of Al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
violence, the parliament unanimously passed a law giving police wide powers to search for and seize illegal weapons. Al-Roumi was one of the main proponents of the bill, which makes it easier for police to obtain a warrant to search a private house for illegal weapons. The law also allows female inspectors to search women's quarters in private homes—quarters which are off limits to men according to Islamic rules.
The parliament passed a similar law in 1992 to deal with a jump in gun ownership after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait
Invasion of Kuwait
The Invasion of Kuwait, also known as the Iraq-Kuwait War, was a major conflict between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait, which resulted in the seven-month long Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, which subsequently led to direct military intervention by United States-led forces in the Gulf...
. Lawmakers refused to extend that law in 1994, arguing that possession of weapons was a right.
Allegations Against Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al Sabah
In June 2007, Al-Roumi, Adel Al-SaraawiAdel Al-Saraawi
Adel Al-Saraawi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the third district. Born in 1962, Al-Saraawi studied accounting before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. He is considered an Independent deputy, but affiliates with the Islamist members...
, and Musallam Al-Barrak
Musallam Al-Barrak
Musallam AlـBarrak is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the fourth district. Born in 1956, Al-Barrak studied Arab literature and worked in the Municipal Council before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996. While political parties are technically illegal in Kuwait,...
led impeachment proceedings against Oil Minister Sheik Ali Al Jarrah Al Sabah on charges of corruption. Al-Roumi alleged that Sheik Ali intimidated a witness in the case. The minister swore that he called the witness for a meeting to tell him to provide all the information he has in the case. Sheik Ali resigned on June 27, after being publicly questioned and before a no-confidence vote could be held.
During the impeachment proceedings, Al-Roumi also made the following public statement against Sheik Ali: "You have to submit your resignation today because what you said has humiliated the Kuwaiti people." Sheikh Ali had been quoted by the local Al Qabas newspaper as saying that he considers former oil minister Sheikh Ali Khalifa Al Sabah, a defendant in a major graft case, as "my master and that I consult him occasionally on oil issues."
Campaign to Reform Foreign Worker Sponsorship System
In August 2008, Al-Roumi declared that he was going to draft a law to scrap Kuwait's foreign worker sponsorship systemKuwait's foreign worker sponsorship system
Kuwait's foreign worker sponsorship system mandates that expatriates must be sponsored by a local employer to get a work permit. In August 2008, MP Abdullah Al-Roumi declared that he was going to draft a law to scrap Kuwait’s "kafeel" foreign worker sponsorship system: "The government should be...
, under which expatriates must be sponsored by a local employer to get a work permit: "The government should be the only kafeel... We have scores of bachelors residing in Kuwait with an equal number of crimes. Many are caused due to the 'trading with humans' issue which taints the reputation of Kuwait."
Denmark Boycott
In February 2008, Al-Roumi called for the Kuwaiti government to boycott DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in response to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
and was quoted as saying, "No Muslim can accept this insult against the Prophet... It is a form of terrorism."
Support For Female Candidates
Al-Roumi currently supports women's active participation in the legislature. On May 10, 2008, he spoke at the inauguration of a women's campaign headquarters in the Salwa area. However, on November 30, 1999, Al-Roumi voted against granting women the right to vote.Runner-Up in Speaker Election
On June 1, 2008, Jassem Al-KharafiJassem Al-Kharafi
Jassem Al-Kharafi, , born in 1940, has been speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly since 1999. Al-Kharafi studied Business Administration at the Manchester Trade Faculty in Kuwait and was director of M. A. Kharafi & Sons before being elected to the National Assembly in 1975. He affiliates with...
was re-elected National Assembly Speaker on Sunday, after gaining 52 votes against 11 to his opponent, Abdullah Al-Roumi.
Supports Government Funds for College Tuition
In 2002 Kuwait started allowing private universities in the country, beginning with the Gulf University for Science and TechnologyGulf University for Science and Technology
Gulf University for Science & Technology is the first private university established in Kuwait. It has a dual-enrollment agreement with the University of Missouri–St...
. On September 28, 2008, MPs Abdullah Al-Roumi, Marzouq Al-Ghanem, Ali Al-Rashid
Ali Al-Rashid
Ali Al-Rashid is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the second district. Born in 1967, Al-Rashid worked as a lawyer before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003...
, and Adel Al-Saraawi
Adel Al-Saraawi
Adel Al-Saraawi is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the third district. Born in 1962, Al-Saraawi studied accounting before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003. He is considered an Independent deputy, but affiliates with the Islamist members...
proposed a law to have the government pay half of Kuwaiti students' tuition at these private colleges.
Reforming Mandatory Retirement Age for Teachers
On November 28, 2008, Al-Roumi joined MPs Khalid Al-Sultan, Hassan Johar, Musallam Al-BarrakMusallam Al-Barrak
Musallam AlـBarrak is a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, representing the fourth district. Born in 1956, Al-Barrak studied Arab literature and worked in the Municipal Council before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996. While political parties are technically illegal in Kuwait,...
, and Marzouq Al-Hubaini in formulating a bill to extend the mandatory retirement age for Kuwaiti teaching staff at Kuwait University from 65 to 70 years. Al-Roumi argued that Item 32 of Law no. 15/1979 has denied the country services of able and intelligent academicians by restricting retirement age of Kuwaitis to 65 years. He recommended that a clause be added to the law such that the retirement age can become 70 years and can further be extended to 75 years.