Aller au contenu principal
News |

Kuwait bails ex-MP detained over Sisi remarks

Saleh al-Mulla has been released on bail and his case adjourned until mid-February
Kuwaitis gather at Saleh al-Mulla's residence in Kuwait City on 7 January to protest his detention (AFP)

A court in Kuwait on Sunday ordered the release of former parliamentarian Saleh al-Mulla on a 2,000 dinar bail ($5,800) after he was detained over charges of insulting Kuwaiti and Egyptian heads of state.

The court also adjourned the case against al-Mulla to 15 February.

On Wednesday, Kuwait's prosecution authorities ordered the detention of al-Mulla for ten days over charges of insulting the Kuwaiti Emir al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

Kuwait's prosecution authorities questioned al-Mulla over statements he made on Twitter regarding last week's visit of al-Sisi to Kuwait.

"The prosecution charged al-Mulla with offending the [Kuwaiti] emir and undertaking a hostile act that could jeopardize the relations between Egypt and Kuwait because he insulted the former's presidency," Hussein al-Abdlelah, al-Mulla's attorney, told the press last week.

"My client admitted to publishing the statements in question but rejected the charges levelled against him," al-Abdlelah said.

Al-Mulla had said on Twitter: "Al-Sisi is not welcome, Kuwait is more worthy of its billions."

The former MP had boycotted Kuwait's 2012 parliamentary elections - which were later invalidated by the country's constitutional court – as well as the elections of 2013.

In 2008 and 2009, al-Mulla was a leading member of Kuwait's National Democratic Alliance, which brought together a number of liberal politicians.

On Tuesday, the Egyptian president concluded a two-day visit to Kuwait, during which he discussed regional issues and bilateral relations with the country's emir.

Middle East Eye propose une couverture et une analyse indépendantes et incomparables du Moyen-Orient, de l’Afrique du Nord et d’autres régions du monde. Pour en savoir plus sur la reprise de ce contenu et les frais qui s’appliquent, veuillez remplir ce formulaire [en anglais]. Pour en savoir plus sur MEE, cliquez ici [en anglais].