A well-known Kuwaiti actress has caused outrage by suggesting expatriates should be deported from the Gulf country amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Hayat Al Fahad, 71, suggested Kuwaiti hospitals could be overwhelmed by foreign nationals suffering from Covid-19, and urged authorities to take action.
In a telephone interview with Kuwaiti TV station ATV, the Maa' Hest Qalam star stated "we are fed up".
طالبت الفنانة الكويتية حياة الفهد، بترحيل الوافدين والمصابين بفيروس كورونا من غير الكويتين إلى بلادههم، وسط حالة واسعة من الجدل تجاه تصريحاتها. 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/0BdNpQcHWp
— صحيفة الرؤية (@Alroeya) April 1, 2020
"If we get sick, there are not [enough] hospitals [for us],” Al Fahad said on Tuesday.
“Why, if their countries do not want them, should we deal with them? Aren’t people supposed to leave during crises?"
The Arabic drama actress also suggested expats should be "sent out" or "put in the desert".
"I am not against humanity, but we have reached a stage where we’re fed up," she added.
Kuwait has so far recorded 317 confirmed cases of Covid-19, but no deaths.
The country's Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported some of the newest cases concerned a Kuwaiti citizen who travelled to the UK and two Indian nationals who had visited India.
Eighty-one patients in the country have since recovered from the coronavirus.
Kuwait has taken extensive measures to curb and halt the spread of the virus, and there have been no suggestions the country's health service have been overwhelmed.
Al Fahad's comments were subsequently criticised online, with fans accusing the actress of showing a lack of humanity.
Wow... Hayat Al Fahad needs to have a word with herself. What a moronic and heartless thing to say. Kuwait pretty much runs on expatriate labour. https://t.co/9YF9neYoLY
— ✍️ Rachel McArthur (@raychdigitalink) April 1, 2020
Hayat al-Fahad, an actress in #Kuwait, wants all foreign workers with #COVID19 to be expelled from hospitals. She doesn't know that without these expats, she won't be able to buy bread. pic.twitter.com/DIv8pFWRDM
— Ahmed Yousif (@AhmedYNZ) April 1, 2020
Famous Kuwaiti actress, Hayat Al-Fahad calls to send expats with #COVID19 back to their home countries. It is worth noting that Al-Fahad is originally Iraqi, and has an Iraqi and a Lebanese ex-husbands, and expats represent 70% of Kuwait’s population. #حياة_الفهد https://t.co/SnoDZDj24B
— Zeidon Alkinani (@z_alkinani) April 1, 2020
"How many Kuwaitis are outside Kuwait at the moment? Should everyone also apply her logic when it comes to them?" one person posted.
Expatriates account for about 70 per cent of Kuwait’s 4.3 million population, according to official figures.
The country has also announced that it will treat Covid-19 patients, both nationals and foreign nationals for free, according to AFP.
