Kuwait to align national legislation with international obligations says Al-Wasmi

Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohammed Al-Wasmi stated that the issuance and amendments of few Decree-Laws stem from Kuwait’s keenness to harmonize national legislation with international obligations. Under international agreements Kuwait has joined the field of human rights, especially the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Al-Wasmi added, in a press statement today, “The text of the new article includes punishment for torture to force a confession, in addition to the prescribed prison sentence of no more than 5 years, so the fine penalty was increased to no less than 1,000 dinars and no more than 5,000 dinars, where previously it was only 500 dinars.”

He added, “A new text has also been introduced to punish any official who attended the commission of the act, approved of it, or remained silent about it, provided that he had the authority to prevent it, as well as what the second paragraph of the same article included in the text of its ruling on increasing the penalty if the act is based on discrimination between people, regardless of its cause or type.”

He pointed out that this legislative amendment is the result of fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of Justice, represented by the Legal Affairs Sector, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Human Rights Affairs Department, in order to enhance human rights, fundamental freedoms, and dignity, which are guaranteed by the Constitution of Kuwait.