Kuwait sees decline in kidnapping, rape and honor-related crimes in H1 2026
Kidnapping cases registered with Kuwait’s Public Prosecution fell by 45.5% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, dropping from 99 to 54 cases, Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait said Monday.
Speaking to KUNA, Al-Sumait said crimes against honor and reputation also declined by 28%, from 168 cases in the first half of 2025 to 121 during the same period this year.
The statistics showed declines across several serious crimes involving violations of personal liberty and honor. Cases of rape by force, threat or deception fell by 50%, from 76 to 38 cases.
Al-Sumait also reported a 26.3% decline in rape cases, a 30% decrease in cases involving a person lacking consent, a 45.3% reduction in child kidnapping involving custody rights, and a 64.3% decrease in kidnapping with intent to cause harm. He said the indicators coincided with the continued development of the penal system and stronger legal protections for society.
Among the legislative reforms highlighted by the minister was the repeal of Article 182 of the Penal Code, which had allowed a kidnapper to be exempted from punishment if he married the victim in a legally valid marriage with her guardian’s consent and the guardian’s request for leniency.
Al-Sumait said repealing the provision eliminated that legal loophole and strengthened accountability for perpetrators. He also pointed to the new Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, saying it strengthened criminal protections for vulnerable groups by prohibiting the withdrawal of complaints, reconciliation with perpetrators or pardons in cases involving sexual abuse and domestic violence against children, people lacking legal capacity or those with diminished capacity, as well as violence against a parent by their children.
The Justice Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the National Plan for Modernizing the Legislative System and reviewing penal and procedural laws to strengthen the protection of rights and freedoms and reinforce security and the rule of law.
