Epic of Immortality

The love of the homeland during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait was embodied in the highest forms of resilience and popular solidarity, as Kuwaitis stood united in defense of their land against the invaders.

The dawn of August 2, 1990, was not an ordinary day; rather, it marked a harsh and painful milestone for the Kuwaiti people. The sudden military invasion began in the early hours of that morning, as armored vehicles and tanks crossed the border into safe residential areas. Kuwaitis were caught off guard by the sounds of explosions, gunfire, and the roar of warplanes at daybreak. Kuwait was invaded and occupied, with attempts made to erase it from existence.

This anniversary remains etched in the memory of Kuwait and its people. Its events replay in our minds like a continuous film reel. How could we forget that painful day, which witnessed betrayal and treachery?

Despite artillery shelling, explosions, landmines, captivity, torture, persecution, and killing, neither words nor weapons nor prayers ceased, despite the brutality of the invaders and the depravity of their ruler.

Today, on the anniversary of the brutal invasion, Kuwaitis renew their pledge of loyalty to the homeland, affirming that willpower, unity, and national solidarity constitute an impenetrable shield against challenges.

The memory of that “Black Day” will remain alive in the hearts of Kuwaiti sons who endured the bitterness of the invasion, and it will persist in the hearts of younger generations who did not live through that period but experience its events through the memories of their fathers and grandfathers.

It carries in its memory a deep wound from the brutal invasion—a painful remembrance engraved in the nation’s conscience, passed down from fathers to sons as an enduring testament to unyielding resilience.

Kuwaitis wrote in their glorious history an epic of eternal resistance and steadfastness against the invaders. This epic was manifested in numerous actions and events, such as protest marches, armed resistance, civil disobedience, and efforts to manage the country’s affairs through the efforts of its own sons.

They refused to cooperate with the occupiers and administered the nation’s affairs with a spirit of mutual support and national unity. The invaders found no collaborators, as popular rejection was pervasive, thereby confusing the invaders, paralyzing their internal operations, and thwarting their attempts to erase Kuwait’s identity.

We praise God for making steadfastness the path of the free and for inspiring the Kuwaiti people with an unbreakable will in the face of tyranny. The strength of peoples lies in their unity and their belief in their right to freedom and sovereignty. This experience stands as a landmark and illuminating chapter in modern Kuwaiti history, serving as an example of a free people who do not compromise on their land nor relinquish their sovereignty, regardless of how intense the repression becomes or how varied the methods of oppression.

Kuwaitis proved in times of crisis to be men of principle and heroes of adversity. They rushed to the fields of action. This behavior reflects the true meaning of patriotism: standing at the forefront when the nation needs you. Wherever duty calls, they do not shy away from serving their homeland in any capacity, nor do they disdain any task. They embodied the spirit of sacrifice and self-reliance, setting aside luxuries and engaging in the most arduous jobs that had previously been the domain of members of other expatriate communities who had left Kuwait for their home countries to ensure their safety.

They were present in hospitals and clinics, in associations, and in the fields of electricity, firefighting, and ambulance services. They even handled preparing and burying the dead, collecting and transporting garbage from cities to incinerators, in addition to distributing money to families during the occupation. They demonstrated that true dignity lies in serving the homeland and that self-reliance is the hallmark of sovereignty and independence.

Homes became schools of patriotism, as every member of the family—grandparents, parents, sisters, and wives—stood alongside their children without fear in the face of the aggressors, out of loyalty to the homeland.

This timeless epic will remain a testament that when peoples unite in pursuit of justice, they are capable of defeating even the most formidable invaders and preserving their identity, no matter how hard the aggressor tries to erase it.

The unity of the home front, resolute will, and high awareness constitute the shield that protects the homeland; conspiracies dissolve before it. The invaders witnessed this clearly in the Kuwaiti people, who were united by patriotism and loyalty to Kuwait, marching toward a single goal: resisting the invaders. The homeland brings together all segments of society—urbanites and Bedouins, Sunnis and Shias, Christians, and honorable resident non-citizens (Bedoon).

All stood in a single line, allowing differences to melt away and the national flag to rise above all other considerations.

Never far from our memory is that shining face of heroism, where the men of armed resistance attained the station of honor and immortality. They confronted the invaders with the boldness of the faithful and struck terror into their hearts through heroic operations recorded in history with letters of light. They offered their lives as sacrifices for the homeland, proving that Kuwait cannot be violated and that the blood of its sons forms an impregnable wall protecting it from every aggressor. Peace be upon the martyrs, and peace be upon the resisters who inscribed the epic of freedom and dignity with their blood.

The best witness to this is Bayt Al-Quran, which has become before the entire world the foremost testament to sacrifice, devotion, and fatherhood. It demonstrates that Kuwaitis united on a common word, defeated the most formidable invaders, and preserved their patriotism, which the aggressor had sought to erase.

The invaders destroyed everything; neither human nor stone nor tree was spared. They killed, tortured, destroyed, and burned. They committed the crime of the century by burning and blowing up oil wells, where thick smoke blocked out the sun, so that Kuwait’s sky was covered by black clouds day and night.

Nor can we forget the case of the missing Kuwaiti prisoners of war who were executed and buried in unknown mass graves during the invasion. This remains a deep national and humanitarian wound. Search efforts continue through international and national committees to identify the remaining remains and bring peace to their families.

The Ministries of Information and Education bear the greatest responsibility in keeping alive the memory of the brutal invasion for future generations, in order to instill values of loyalty and cohesion among Kuwaitis, and to emphasize national curricula to introduce future generations to the history of the homeland and the resilience of its people. Let this be a national project to instill loyalty and belonging in the hearts of generations, and to honor those who served the homeland in times of crisis and our righteous martyrs.