KUWAIT CITY, May 1: The Criminal Court has postponed until May 8 the hearing on the case of 2024 National Assembly election candidate and political activist Musaed Al-Quraifa who is currently in detention for the political views he expressed during the campaign period. The court also rejected the request of Al-Quraifa’s lawyer to release him. It then affirmed that the officer who conducted investigations into the case will be summoned in its next session.

A huge crowd of individuals and public figures gathered at the court to support Al-Quraifa, including former MP Mussalam Al-Barrak who wondered why Al- Quraifa is accused of coup attempt although he began his speech stressing his full loyalty to the Al-Sabah Family. He pointed out Al-Quraifa criticized the executive authority, but he did not offend the political leadership. He added he obtained information that the concerned officer did not investigate the case, because the latter was supplied with the investigation documents as evident in his refusal to name his sources

Meanwhile, Kuwait Transparency Society organized a forum on electoral reform. Chairman of the society Majed Al-Mutairi confirmed the participation of regional and Arab figures and institutions, including constitutional experts. He said the forum aims to develop the election system in order to enhance democracy and transparency. He added the society will submit a report on the recommendations and ideas tackled in the forum to the Council of Ministers and the Assembly in order to help the decision and law makers in determining the best electoral system. In another development, the Constitutional Court postponed until May 21 the hearing on the appeal of former MP and Fourth Constituency candidate Abdullah Fehad Al-Anzi to review the counting of votes. Al-Anzi claimed there were mistakes in the tally.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff