Court sentences ‘activist’ to three years for spreading false news, orders deportation

The Criminal Court, presided over by Counselor Nayef Al-Dahoum, has sentenced a stateless activist, identified only as M.B. to three years in prison with hard labor, followed by deportation. He was found guity of spreading false news that undermined the state’s reputation.

The ruling stated that the accused had published material that went beyond expressing opinion, deliberately inciting public sentiment against Kuwait and harming the country’s prestige.

The court emphasized that publishing information — especially that which affects the state’s image — must be grounded in careful verification, which the accused failed to observe, reports Al-Anba daily.

In its justification, the court criticized the claim of the accused that he saw no visible efforts exerted by the Central Agency for Illegal Residents to settle the issue. It noted that he appeared to expect state institutions to provide him with progress reports, yet failed to present any solid evidence to support his claims, relying instead on “unsupported tales” shaped by personal perceptions.

The court found that these allegations lacked factual foundation and misrepresented Kuwait’s human rights efforts.

The judgment further stated that the accused had no genuine intention of reform, but sought instead to provoke discord and instability. As a result, the court imposed a single, harsher penalty for both charges due to their interrelation.

In rejecting the request of the accused for leniency, the court pointed to his prior criminal record, which showed repeated offenses despite previous judicial leniency. The court concluded that continued indulgence was unjustified under the circumstances.