Kuwaiti actress Hayat al-Fahd sparks controversy over COVID-19 crisis

CAIRO - 2 April 2020: Kuwaiti actress Hayat al-Fahd sparked controversy on social media after she called for deporting foreign workers, or "throwing them in the desert", to address a deficit in Kuwaiti hospitals' capacity in light of the outbreak of the coronavirus.

"I am not against humanity, but we are tired of it," the 71-year-old actress said in statements to the "Azma Wet’ady" program broadcast on a Kuwaiti satellite channel.

Sam Alajji on Twitter

The most fumes actor in Kuwait "hayat alfahad " want to throw all foreign people in Kuwait to desert becuse coronavirus.#حياة_الفهد https://t.co/ZgNK8lV2wp

Fahd, one of the most famous artists in the Gulf region, has called for the deportation of non-Kuwaiti employees to their countries and later transferring their salaries. The actress said, "If their countries do not want them, why should Kuwait take care of them? Hospitals in Kuwait cannot accommodate this number of patients."

Some denounced on social media the call to deal with anyone this way, while others considered that her views do not represent the majority of the Kuwaiti people. Other individuals supported her "national" stance on the crisis.

This commentator sarcastically called for the deportation of foreign healthcare personnel in Kuwait, which means that there will be no one to provide medical treatment for the Kuwaiti people:


This tweet denounced leaving anyone behind during the crisis and described Fahad’s statement as "inhuman":


This tweet accused her of "racism":


This tweet described Fahad as “less merciful than monsters”:

However, this tweet expressed solidarity with the famed actress, describing her as “fearful for the well-being of her country”:


This tweet also expressed solidarity on Al-Fahad’s views on the crises:


Kuwait recorded 317 cases of Coronavirus infections, including migrant workers. 80 of them recovered while no deaths were announced and no official statements were issued regarding the lack of hospital beds.

Kuwait provides free treatment to Coronavirus patients, both citizens, and expatriates. Foreigners make up about 70 percent of the population of about four million people.

Furthermore, Lawyer Samir Sabri today, Thursday, filed an urgent lawsuit before the Administrative Court, requesting banning Hayat al-Fahd from entering the country.