Freedom of Speech is not Free!

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information today expressed dismay at the ruling of the misdemeanor court in Kuwait issued on 30/6/2010 sentencing Khaled AlFadala, secretary-general of the National Democratic Alliance to three months and a fine of KD150, on the background of the case filed by the Kuwaiti Prime Minister in which he accused AlFadala of insult and libel.

In January 2009  the public prosecutor charged Khaled AlFadala of expressing contempt to a public official against the backdrop of the communiqué submitted by the Prime Minister. In November 2009, AlFadala made a speech in a public piazza entitled ” Go , we deserve better”  in which he criticized the PM's performance as well as the political corruption in Kuwait.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said, “It is unacceptable that the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Nasser AlMohammad – member of the royal family in Kuwait – turns to be the prime cause of imprisonment of journalists and activists. No sooner had the court provisionally released the writer Mohammed AlJassim for a hearing scheduled September, 2010; until AlFadala was sentenced to three months imprisonment, as well as fining the writer and MP Mohammed Hayef AlMutairi KD 3,000 in March 2010 for the same reason, criticizing the prime minister”.

The Arabic Network considers that the increasing trend of abusing journalists and activists recently in Kuwait , raises concerns about the future of freedom of expression and democracy in this country which was in the near past a role model to its neighbors Gulf states.