KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s cabinet has approved a new media bill stipulating a 10-year jail term for religious offences and a fine of more than $1m for criticising the emir, local media reported yesterday.
The government of the country, under pressure from Islamist, nationalist and liberal opposition groups, has not released the “combined media law” but local newspapers published leaked details.
To become effective, the new law must be passed by the pro-government parliament and signed by the
Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
The draft bill proposes a jail term of up to 10 years for insulting God, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), his companions and wives, and other prophets. The same penalty applies to those instigating the overthrow of the regime.
It also stipulates a fine of between 50,000 dinars ($175,000) and 300,000 dinars ($1.05m) for criticising the emir or the crown prince.
Under the existing law, critics of the emir are tried under the penal code and face a jail term of up to five years. Kuwait has jailed several opposition tweeters and former MPs on such charges and many others are on trial. Besides conventional media such as newspapers and television, the draft bill extends government control to all social networks and electronic publications, which require a licence from the information ministry. AFP
