A Pakistani man who was arrested disguised as a woman near a mosque in Kuwait said that he was waiting for his girlfriend when he was apprehended by the police.

“During his questioning, he said that he had agreed to meet with his girlfriend near Al Shuyukh Mosque in Jleeb Al Shuyukh,” sources told Kuwaiti daily Al Rai. “He did not reveal why he wore a woman's abaya and covered his face to meet his girlfriend and was referred to Al Farawniya investigation department for further questioning,” the sources added.

The man was held after the police became suspicious about a black clad, face covered figure talking on the phone in the vicinity of Al Shuyukh Mosque. They asked to check the person’s identity and upon asking that the face veil be lifted, they found that it was a man, a statement from the interior ministry public relations and media department said.

The police searched the man but they found nothing of concern and later referred him to the relevant authorities.

Kuwait has been enforcing a zero-tolerance policy towards people acting in a suspicious manner ever since a suicide bomber blew himself up amid worshippers at the Al Imam Al Sadeq mosque, killing 26 worshippers and wounding 227.

Tight security has been put in place around mosques to ensure the safety of worshippers.

Jleeb Al Shuyukh, where the man was arrested, is a town largely inhabited by expatriate workers from South Asian and Arab countries.

By Habib Toumi