Kuwait bails ex-MP detained over Sisi remarks

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.