Kuwaiti politician Mesaed Al-Quraifa has been sentenced to four years in prison with hard labour for “insulting the authority of the emirate.” This comes just weeks after the country’s emir, Mishal al-Ahmed Al Sabah, dissolved the National Assembly, heightening the political crisis in Kuwait.
Al-Quraifa, a former candidate for the National Assembly, was arrested on 23 April and held in pre-trial detention for 21 days. During this period, he was denied access to his family and lawyer. The charges stemmed from remarks he made during a political campaign symposium on 30 March, where he allegedly stated that Kuwait should not be a “testing ground” for members of the ruling family.
On 15 April, Al-Quraifa also posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing concerns about the country’s future, stating: “The continuation of the current situation is a danger to the future of the country… The political system must be reformed so that it is effective and the people have their role and say in forming the government.”
This arrest and subsequent sentencing come amid a broader political shift in Kuwait. In May, Emir Mishal al-Ahmed Al Sabah announced the suspension of the National Assembly and several key articles of the constitution, potentially extending this suspension until 2028. During this period, the emir and his royal-appointed cabinet will assume the powers of the 50-member parliament.
This move follows years of political deadlocks and reshuffles, with the assembly having been dissolved four times in the past five years. Tensions between the government and parliament have escalated, with accusations of corruption and claims from MPs that the parliament has obstructed plans for economic diversification.
The suspension includes the halting of articles that required elections within two months of parliamentary dissolution and that laws must be approved by both the parliament and the emir. With these changes, the emir now holds full control over legislation.
Emir Mishal al-Ahmed defended the move, stating that it was necessary to protect the country’s future and prevent the exploitation of democracy to undermine the state.
