Kuwait jails MP for insulting Bahrain, Saudi Arabia

Manama: A Kuwaiti lawmaker sentenced to 14 years and six months in jail for remarks deemed highly offensive to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Abdulhameed Dashti, who is currently staying in Europe, is wanted to serve two years of imprisonment in Bahrain for his involvement in illegal fund raising.

According to Kuwaiti media, he was slapped with the new verdict by Kuwait’s Criminal Court yesterday. It was reported that the controversial MP was sentenced to eleven years and six months for insulting Saudi Arabia and three years in a different case for insulting Bahrain.

Kuwaiti media also mentioned that “Dashti still has the right to appeal against the sentence.” However, it has been reported that Dashti didn’t return home since Bahrain’s Public Prosecution issued an international circular for his arrest last December through the Interpol. 

According to reports, he has been travelling back-and-forth from the UK, Switzerland and Syria during the past four months.

The lawmaker has been known for his support to the Syrian and Iranian regimes, besides terrorist militias, such as Hezbollah terrorist organisation in Lebanon.

Moreover, Dashti repeatedly attacked the ruling families of the GCC in his statements, including countries like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He even called for initiating a military strike against Saudi Arabia.

His parliamentary immunity was reportedly revoked by the Kuwaiti Parliament (National Assembly) last march. The decision to strip of his immunity was taken following a request submitted by the Kuwaiti Justice Ministry, which mentioned that “it’s related to State security cases that included insulting fellow GCC States.”

Bahraini legislator Jamal Buhassan travelled to Kuwait last March and assembled a team of attorneys there to follow up several complaints filed against Dashti in Kuwaiti courts.

Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti MP described the sentences as “oppressive” on his Twitter account, but insisted that he will not back down.