‘Back to the Slammer’ the history of prisons in Kuwait

Prior to early 1950s, Kuwait had no prisons

KUWAIT CITY, June 21, (KUNA): Prison in the old Kuwait was a huge cubical structure (large shop) in the middle of the market. Through time, it developed into modern integrated buildings.

Prior to the early 1950s, Kuwait had no prisons in the modern sense of the term to house criminals and felons; however, according to the book “From here began Kuwait” by author Abdullah Al-Hatem, a large shop, owned by Abdulaziz Al-Qabandi in one of the old markets of Kuwait, was used as a proto-prison.

According to Kuwaiti historian Abdullah Al-Hatim in his book, “Min Huna Bada-al Kuwait” (Kuwait Began from Here); jail in Kuwait was a huge cubical structure in the middle of the market — between Souk AlKabeer Mosque and Qaisari Al-Tujaar on the eastern side.

During the days of the late Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, the jail was relocated near the sea at the ‘buhaitah’ slope, exactly in the South of Seif Palace.

The book stated that at the end of the late Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber’s reign; life in Kuwait developed, the construction sector expanded and commercial movement increased, in addition to the influx of foreigners. With this rapid development, a variety of cases and problems emerged.

“The government decided to relocate the jail to the detention center for mad people — ‘Sijni majaneen’ — in Safat, behind the old Kuwait Municipality headquarters. The inmates were then transferred to the center which was built for them,” Al-Hatim narrated.

He explained in his book that “an inmate was obliged to pay around three to five rupees upon release. He would remain inside the jail until he pays the amount which was considered fee for services rendered by the wardens.”

“In the past, inmates did not serve a specific jail term. If one is jailed because of debt, he would be released once he settles the debt, or else, he would be at the mercy of the creditor’s memory, or someone intercedes for him through one of the creditor’s relatives,” the author pointed out.

He added, “In old Kuwait, there was a temporary jail for persons who appear suspicious at night in the markets. Such detentions were ordered by the chief security officer of the markets — the late Sheikh Sabah Al-Dueij who became famous by the name ‘Sabah Al-Souk’ (Sabah Market). He played a significant role in maintaining safety and security within the Kuwaiti community.”

The book went on to say, “With the development of civil life in Kuwait and population growth, the need to regulate and upgrade the jail arose.

“The first initiative taken in this regard was on Oct 2, 1954 when then Deputy Police Chief, the late Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah, forwarded a letter to the Supreme Executive Committee calling for overhauling the jail and to transform it into a correctional facility which would help change the behaviors of misguided individuals.”

Al-Hatim indicated that after the letter was presented during the committee’s meeting on Oct 3, 1954; the decision to establish a proper correctional facility was taken. The policy to develop new prisons and correction facilities was set in motion and Kuwaiti authorities sought assistance in this regard from Egypt.

“On Oct 29, 1954, the Egyptian experts recommended that a prison – consisting of several buildings housing male, female and juvenile offenders separately — would be constructed away from the residential areas.

The construction process began in 1955, which ultimately led to the establishment of modern detention facilities in Kuwait.