Kuwait jails TV personality for calling for normalisation with Israel

The Criminal Court in Kuwait issued a three-year prison sentence with hard labour on Thursday against famous media personality Fajr Al-Saeed in a state security case on several charges.

The widely circulated Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas reported that the Public Prosecution had accused Al-Saeed of “broadcasting false news,” “misusing the information network” and “spreading fabricated news”. She was convicted and given a prison sentence for these charges but was acquitted of: “Calling for normalisation with the occupying entity.”

The prison sentence issued against Al-Saeed is included in the complaint filed against her by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior, in which she was accused of “harming state interests,” “violating the law criminalising normalisation” in the country and “broadcasting false news” regarding Kuwait’s intention to normalise with the Israeli occupation.

Kuwaiti law includes Law No. 21 of 1964, known as the Unified Law for Boycotting Israel, which consists of twelve articles, all of which criminalise all forms of dealing with Israel.

The Criminal Court in Kuwait held two sessions to try Al-Saeed before Friday’s ruling, the first on 23 January and the second on Thursday, during which Al-Saeed denied all charges against her, while the court decided to continue her detention.

On 9 January, the Public Prosecution ordered her detention for 21 days and referral to the Central Prison pending the case after being questioned before referring her to the Criminal Court.

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