July 7th, 2010 by Jennifer

The National reports that Khaled al Fadala, the secretary general of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Kuwait, has been sentenced to three months in prison and handed at fine of KD150 (approximately US$500) for engaging in “insult” and “libel” of Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al Ahmed al Sabah. Al Fadala was charged following a public speech he made in November of last year, criticizing the prime minister and corruption in Kuwait. The ruling was greeted with dismay by human rights organizations and Kuwaiti activists, who had just gained a short-lived victory when Mohammed al Jassem, a prominent writer jailed for his own criticism of public officials, was released on bail after weeks of public protests against his imprisonment.

Many concerned citizens are viewing actions taken against government critics such as al Fadala and al Jassem as signs of an alarming new trend against freedom of expression in Kuwait, which previously had been known for its “lively media and outspoken MPs.” In that light, a cross-section of activists, journalists, and parliamentarians from both the conservative and liberal camps vehemently protested al Fadala’s arrest on Monday in a gathering at the National Democratic Alliance headquarters in Rawda. Conservative MP Faisal Al-Meslim went so far as to state, “We currently live during the darkest eras of Kuwait’s political life. By gathering here, we protest the government’s negligence and demand transparency.”

Posted in Freedom, Kuwait, Protests |