Kuwait to impose heavy fines for hanging laundry on balcony

KUWAIT CITY, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Residents in Kuwait who hang out laundry in their balconies to dry clothes will be fined up to 300 Kuwaiti dinars (about 1,000 U.S. dollars) under a new campaign, local media reported.

The campaign is prompted by concerns over hygiene and visual pollution, the Gulf News reported, noting that several cities and regions in Gulf countries have been pushing for strict regulations in this regard.

Bahrain's Southern Governorate introduced a similar ban last year after some residents complained that the sight of underwear and lingerie outside was "provocative, disrespectful and embarrassing", the report said.

The campaign in Kuwait has been going on for years, dating back to a ministerial decision issued in 2008, Zaid Al Enezi, head of the team, was quoted by Kuwaiti daily Al Qabas on Monday.

So far, 12 apartments have been warned that they would have to pay fines if they continued drying their clothes on balconies, he said.

Hefty fines are actually not rare in this Arabian country. In August last year, a Kuwaiti man was told by police that he might have to pay 10,000 Kuwaiti dinars (33,300 U.S. dollars) for throwing an empty can on the beach. Enditem