The woman who tried to kiss the Emir’s hand

Old Sharifa Al-Foudari of Kuwait had always dreamt of seeing the country’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed to kiss his hand and tell him how much she loves him. When she had the chance, she could not do it because he refused.

“I clutched his hand to kiss it but he refused and pull it away…he grabbed my head and kissed it…he then said ‘hala yamma’ (welcome mother),” Sharifa was quoted by Alanba newspaper as saying on Sunday.

Sharifa had not expected to see the Emir personally when she went with her husband and granddaughter to a local establishment to participate in a “one-million-flower campaign” marking the Gulf country’s national day.

She told the paper she made sure to participate in that campaign because it is the “least duty we offer our prince Abu Nasser (Sheikh Sabah).”

Alanba quoted the woman as saying she had just put the flower in the hall when her husband shouted to tell her that the Emir arrived.

“I have been suffering from leg pain that prevents me from walking properly…when I heard the Emir’s name, the pain was gone and I hurried towards him…after kissing my head, the Emir Abu Nasser lifted my granddaughter, hugged her and kissed her…he then said ‘please forgive me for any negligence on my part,” she said.

“I had always known that Abu Nasser is the prince of love and humbleness…I always follow up his moves and news…I followed up his recent trip to the UAE and Oman for reconciliation between them…I think this is a big evidence of his good spirit and political shrewdness…may God the Almighty preserve him.”