KUWAIT CITY, March 27: The Criminal Court sentenced Salman Al-Khalidi to five years imprisonment for insulting the Amiri authority on social media. On February 9, the court presided over by Judge Abdullah Al-Osaimi, had adjourned the hearing to April 10 to consider Al-Khalidi¡¯s appeal against the prison sentence issued in absentia in a State Security case.

Al-Mullah gets 2 years
The Criminal Court Wednesday sentenced former MP Saleh Al-Mullah to two-year imprisonment with hard labor in a State Security case. The Public Prosecution had previously decided to release Al-Mullah on bail of KD 1,000 after completing his investigation. He was charged with challenging the authority and powers of His Highness the Amir and misusing his phone through a post on his X account. Al-Mullah denied the charges against him. In the grounds for its ruling, the Criminal Court confirmed that it was certain the defendant was referring to His Highness the Amir, who holds undisputed constitutional rights under the Kuwaiti Constitution. The court stated that it was clear the defendant, when posting the statement on May 10, 2024, intended to address the current Amir, not the late Amir. The court rejected the defendant¡¯s claim that the post expressed a constitutional rather than a political opinion, explaining that social media was not the appropriate platform for such matters. Instead, it should be the domain of legal research and studies, not public discussion intended to harm or defame the rights and powers of His Highness the Amir of the country.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff