Criminal Court jails several people for threatening national unity
. . . hands down harsh sentences in social media cases; no tolerance for division, warns against undermining social cohesion
- The verdicts underscore Kuwait’s firm stance against online content that fuels division or threatens national security, particularly at a time when strengthening unity and safeguarding social stability remain top priorities.
State Security and Terrorism Crimes Circuit at the Criminal Court has issued its first verdicts in cases related to sectarian incitement on social media, delivering a strong message against actions deemed harmful to national unity.
The court, headed by Counselor Nasser Al-Badr and comprising Judges Omar Al-Mulaifi, Abdullah Al-Faleh, and Salem Al-Zayed, sentenced 17 accused to three years in prison with hard labor. It also ordered the deportation of two expatriates after serving their sentences.
In a separate ruling, the court handed a 10-year prison sentence with hard labor to a tweeter for similar charges.
At the same time, the court refrained from punishing 109 other defendants, placing them under a good conduct pledge and requiring financial guarantees ranging between KD 1,000 and KD 3,000, along with the confiscation of their mobile phones.
Nine defendants were acquitted of charges that included inciting sectarian strife, sympathizing with a hostile state, and spreading false information online. The group of defendants included both citizens and expatriates, among them 36 women.
The court stressed that such actions go beyond mere expression, particularly under the current circumstances facing the country, and represent a breach of national duty.
It emphasized the importance of promoting solidarity, supporting state institutions, and avoiding behavior that could undermine social cohesion.
In its reasoning, the court warned that content inciting division or expressing sympathy with hostile entities could disrupt public order, weaken national unity, and threaten social peace and security.
The court also noted that mocking state institutions, including the armed forces, or casting doubt on official narratives during exceptional times could harm the country’s interests and undermine its stability.
The verdicts underscore Kuwait’s firm stance against online content that fuels division or threatens national security, particularly at a time when strengthening unity and safeguarding social stability remain top priorities.
