KUWAIT CITY, March 22: The Cabinet recently convened its weekly meeting at Bayan Palace, chaired by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef. After the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sharida Al-Muasherji, made the following statement:

At the start of the meeting, the Cabinet commended the speech delivered by His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad, during his visit to the Supreme Judicial Council last Sunday, accompanied by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled and Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef. In his address, His Highness the Amir expressed pride in the integrity and professionalism of the Kuwaiti judiciary, emphasizing its role in preserving rights and ensuring justice. He stressed that judges must be free from external influence when delivering their rulings. His Highness also warned against the dangers of hasty rulings made to support falsehoods, settle personal scores, or serve self-interests at the cost of supporting the oppressed. Such actions, he said, perpetuate fanaticism and pre-Islamic zeal, and endanger the country’s interests. He urged the judiciary to focus on four key principles: the swift Kuwaitization of judicial positions, piety in issuing rulings, timely resolution of disputes, and placing the interests of Kuwait above all other considerations.

His Highness also reaffirmed that matters concerning Kuwaiti nationality are of vital national importance.

The Cabinet was then briefed on the visits made by His Highness the Amir, accompanied by His Highness the Crown Prince and Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, to several organizations, including the Kuwait Sports Club for the Deaf, the Nabati Poets Diwaniya, the Kuwait Sports Club for the Disabled, and the Kuwait Blind Association, on Monday and Tuesday.

The Council of Ministers also reviewed a report from the Government Performance Follow-up Agency concerning the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources. As a result, the Cabinet decided to form an investigative committee, led by an advisor from the Fatwa and Legislation Department. The committee will also include representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Financial Controllers Authority, and Kuwait University’s College of Engineering. This committee will investigate the observations and violations noted in the Government Performance Follow-up Agency's report and the Audit Bureau’s report. It will also look into any additional issues uncovered during the investigation, identify those responsible, and propose recommendations. The committee is expected to submit a comprehensive report within three months, which will help the Government Performance Follow-up Agency prepare a final report for the Cabinet’s consideration.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet heard an update from Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi on the Ministry of Health’s plan for the last ten days of Ramadan 1446 AH. The plan, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, aims to provide medical services at various mosques throughout Kuwait during Qiyam prayers. The Cabinet affirmed its commitment to ensuring that relevant government agencies fulfill their roles in delivering quality services, facilitating worship during the blessed nights, and preparing mosques for the comfort of worshippers. The Cabinet also prayed to God Almighty to accept the good deeds of all.

The Cabinet reviewed several items on the agenda, approving many and referring others to the relevant ministerial committees for further study and preparation of implementation reports.

Additionally, the Council of Ministers strongly condemned the recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in numerous casualties, particularly among children, women, and the elderly. The attacks have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation. The Cabinet declared that this military escalation violates the Gaza ceasefire agreement and international laws, urging the international community, particularly the Security Council and parties involved in the ceasefire, to take immediate and decisive action to halt the Israeli attacks, protect the Palestinian people, and ensure the enforcement of international obligations.

The Cabinet also condemned the Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, viewing them as a flagrant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. Kuwait reiterated its stance on respecting Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and called on the Security Council to uphold its responsibility in maintaining peace and security, ensuring an end to the Israeli violations that threaten the stability of both Syria and the broader region.

Furthermore, the Cabinet reviewed a recommendation from the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs concerning a draft decree-law amending provisions of the Criminal Procedures and Trials Law (Law No. 17 of 1960). The Cabinet approved the amendment and referred it to His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for approval. Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait explained that the amendments to Articles 188 and 230 address practical challenges in the judicial process. Article 188 will allow for the electronic announcement of in-absentia judgments, facilitating faster notifications and reducing delays in enforcing judgments. Article 230 will address the accumulation of criminal fines, enabling the Public Prosecution to collect fines directly from convicts or through salary deductions, with installment payment options up to five years, considering the convict's financial situation. These amendments aim to protect public funds, enforce judgments, and balance justice with the rights of individuals and society.