Oct. 6--KUWAIT -- Islamist MPs yesterday called on the government to act and apply the law with regard to what they called "immoral violations" committed at a musical concert held at the Al-Raya hotel on Friday night. The concert was cancelled halfway through by Information Ministry inspectors after a teenage girl reportedly hugged and kissed popular Egyptian singer Tamer Hosni.

Following disputes over musical concerts, the government introduced strict controls in May 2004 that prohibited the audience from dancing and imposed stricter segregation of the sexes. Some Islamist MPs threatened action if the interior and information ministries did not apply the law. They also called on the commerce ministry to penalize the owner of the hotel.

Qanas Al-Adwani, who heads the government department that monitors public entertainment, said the girl's behavior at Friday's concert "defied the conservative traditions" of Kuwait. Al-Adwani also said Sunday that the fan's behavior broke the controls on public entertainment. Concerts have to be licensed by the government, and monitors from the Information Ministry watch the crowd to make sure nobody stands up to dance.

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