Over 300 Kuwaitis are being tried for “insulting the Amir”. This number includes political activists targeted directly, former politicians and everyday citizens being tried under an antiquated lèse-majesté law (Article 25 of the 1970 State Security Law of 1970).

Kuwait, formerly a beacon of freedom of expression in the Middle East, has been using the broad language of the legislation to prosecute any government opposition.

We, a group of Kuwaitis who stand for freedom of expression and democracy, are demanding an end to political persecution and changes to the outdated state security laws.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Ex-MP Musalam Albarrak


The part of Albarrak's speech for which he was charged:

 In the name of the nation, I have a speech your highness. There's no good in us if we don't say it, and there's no good in you if you don't listenToday Kuwait is going through its worst times and we can't afford the luxury of being courteous.
Your highness, in the name of the nation we shall not allow you to engage in autocratic rule. 
Your highness, some of your counselors have commercial interests and some of them carry animosity towards the people and democracy, so don't make of your authorities as a ruler to a passageway for their interests and animosities. 
Your Highness, the parliament chose you and appointed you as a ruler. You were not appointed as a crown prince by your father, and you were not appointed as a crown prince by your brother. The people willingly chose you as a ruler for the country. Is there a payment for a good deed other than a good deed?
Your Highness, history records, so what do you want history to write in your page? Do you want it to write that under the rule of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed opinion leaders were imprisoned? Do you want it to write that people were beaten with sticks? Do you want it to write that under the rule of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed, Kuwait and its wealth were robbed? Do you want it to write that under the rule of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed the people's rights were violated and the constitution was undermined?
Your Highness, after you were arraigned you increased the ruler's financial appropriations from eight million Kuwaiti Dinars annually to 50 millions, and we said nothing out of respect to you. So maintain that respect your highness not to us but to the nation. 
Your Highness may you live long, do you know what's your problem? It's that you still think that you are a prime minister, that's your problem.

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