By Hussain Al-Qatari
Kuwait, Apr 19 (Kuwait Times): Thousands of people including high profile businessmen, politicians and diplomats from across the region attended the funeral of Kuwait's leading entrepreneur Nasser Al-Kharafi yesterday morning at Sulaibikhat cemetery. The atmosphere was somber and even though the attendees were not related by blood to each other, they shared an emotional and familial solidarity. This only reiterated how people from all walks of life personally felt the loss of one man whose magnanimity touched their lives in some
form or the other. Due to the large number of mourners, the Al-Kharafi family received people at their diwan in Bidaa shortly after the burial before noon.
The deceased's brother, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi, arrived in the morning with a group of MPs who were on a mission in Panama where they were attending the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference. Speaking to the press, he said that the news came as a shock, and that his brother Nasser worked incessantly for the improvement of the business sector. "May his soul rest in peace," said a shaken Jassem Al-Kharafi.
Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce Ahmed Al-Haroun extended his condolences to the Al-Kharafi family, saying: "We have lost one of the most instrumental figures in our country. The deceased played a big role in improving the national economy. He contributed greatly to the private business sector, and his influence was not only present locally, but also regionally and internationally. He played a big role in the development of key projects, and his achievements speak for him. His demise is a big loss. May he r
est in peace.
Minister of Communication Mohammad Al-Bussairi echoed Al-Haroun's sentiments. "Al-Kharafi's departure is not just a loss for Kuwait, but for the entire Arab and Islamic world. He left a legacy behind him, and his kindness and generosity extended to reach many people all across the region. We pray that he rests in peace and that God encompasses him in his mercy and love.
MP Khalaf Al-Dumaitheer extended his condolences to the Al-Kharafi family, and added that the loss is for all of Kuwait, not just the Al-Kharafis. "He had a strong presence in the business spectrum, and overhauled the business and commerce industry in Kuwait. He was also charming in his manners and kindness, and everyone who came in contact with him could feel this. He had an overwhelming sense of his humility and ambition.
Other lawmakers issued also issued statements yesterday on the sad demise of Nasser Al-Kharafi. MP Adnan Abdulsamad extended his sympathies to the Arab and Islamic nations for what he called "the loss of a leader in the fields of economics and business". He said, "This man was not just an entrepreneur, but also a philanthropist and a man with a big kind heart, who wholeheartedly supported the Palestinian cause - one of the biggest causes of the Islamic nation as a whole.
Lawmaker Askar Al-Enezi reiterated: "Al-Kharafi played an instrumental role in the development of local commerce and business. He was a leader in establishing the modern state of Kuwait. We pray that his soul rests in peace." MP Maasouma Mubarak said, "I extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to the deceased's family. I am deeply sorry for the loss of my colleagues Jassem Al-Kharafi, Marzouq Al-Ghanim and the deceased's sister Dr Faiza Al-Kharafi. May God help them through these turbulent times.