Kuwait reduces life imprisonment to 20 years in landmark decision

• Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, urged correctional leaders to swiftly identify eligible inmates for review, aligning with Kuwait’s vision to balance justice and rehabilitation, allowing inmates to reintegrate into society.

Following the high directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, has ordered the reduction of the life imprisonment sentence to twenty years, instead of “perpetual confinement to hard labor,” Al Rai newspaper reported.

Al-Youssef ordered the formation of a committee to review the files of those sentenced to life imprisonment three months before completing the twenty year term.

He called on the leaders of correctional institutions and sentence enforcement authorities to quickly compile a list of inmates who meet the criteria and study their cases promptly.

Al-Youssef added that this step aligns with the State of Kuwait’s vision to enhance the reform and rehabilitation approach within correctional institutions. He noted that this directive aims to balance sentence enforcement and justice while providing inmates with the opportunity to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society after serving their sentence.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Interior, represented by correctional institutions, believes that provisions related to inmates contribute to their reform and rehabilitation, in addition to the punishment imposed.

This came during Al-Youssef’s visit to the central prison, where he had breakfast with inmates and their families. He was received by Brigadier General Fahd Al-Ubaid, Director General of Correctional Institutions, and other leaders.

Al-Youssef congratulated the Correctional Institutions and Sentences Enforcement Sector, as well as those in charge of prisons and inmates, on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

He highlighted that the Ministry of Interior places great importance on correctional institutions, believing their role extends beyond merely enforcing punishments to providing an integrated correctional environment aimed at rehabilitating inmates and preparing them to return to society with a renewed commitment to the law and a contribution to nation-building.

He also pointed out that Kuwait’s correctional institutions have seen a qualitative shift in the level of health and social facilities and services, making Kuwaiti prisons a model in adhering to humanitarian standards and international treaties. He stressed the importance of cooperation between official bodies and civil society to support correctional and rehabilitation programs.