KUWAIT: Kuwaitis who fight in conflicts abroad such as Syria or encourage such actions should face up to 30 years in jail, a Kuwaiti lawmaker said in a proposed law modelled on penalties introduced in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
A Saudi royal decree published last week said any citizen who fought abroad would face from three to 20 years in jail, in an apparent move to deter Saudis from joining rebels in Syria and then posing a security risk once they return home.
In his proposal, which praised the Saudi decree, Kuwaiti MP Nabeel Al Fadl said civilians should face 5-20 years behind bars.
Members of the National Guard or police could face 10-30 years in jail for fighting abroad or promoting such actions.
The plan would need the approval of the ruling emir, government and parliament to become law.
“Over the past two decades, Kuwait has suffered the loss of its sons in Afghanistan and Chechnya after instigators managed to delude them and sent them to fight under what they described as religious justifications,” Fadl said in his proposal, published on the National Assembly’s website yesterday.
Kuwait needs to alter its penal code to maintain the security of the Gulf, the proposal said.
REUTERS
