KUWAIT: The Education Ministry removed eight books from school libraries following complaints from parents of students that the books contained unsuitable ideas and photos. All books including textbooks and library books are first reviewed by an 'inspection committee' within the Ministry of Education and must be approved before being allowed to be stocked in public school libraries.

Educational sources said Director of Libraries Department Ahmad Al-Kandary wrote to the directors of Kuwait's educational zones and the religious institute to remove the controversial books from school libraries. He said comments about some unsuitable ideas and pictures in some books that were approved by the inspection committees and were distributed to school libraries, adding that the concerned books will be re-examined.

Al-Kandari said school libraries rectors should set seven books aside until a decision is made on correct procedures, the books included: Picasso (Asma Series), Shakespeare (Asma Series), Cleopatra (Asma Series) for all school stages in addition to the books "Haifa confesses to you," "Midnight crime's," "My talk with my son and My talk with my daughter" in the intermediate and secondary stages. He said that libraries were informed about the removal of the book "Memories after me."

It was not immediately clear what material specifically was deemed offensive. Kuwait strictly censors both public and private school textbooks and libraries and material including nudity, profanity, discussions of Israel and other issues are banned. - Al-Qabas