Kuwait MPs jailed for 2011 demonstration

Leading Kuwaiti opposition figures and current and former MPs were among 66 people yesterday sentenced to up to five years in jail over the storming of parliament in 2011.

Among those sentenced were eight former MPs and two still serving.

Opposition politician Jumaan Al Harbash said on Twitter that he would rather be in jail than be a traitor. It was not clear who the other member of the national assembly was.

Former politician Musallam Al Barrack was one of those sentenced yesterday. He was released from prison this year after a different sentence.

On November 16, 2011, demonstrators and opposition MPs stormed Kuwait’s parliament building calling for the prime minister at the time, Sheikh Nasser Al Sabah, to step down.

They occupied the main chamber and sang the national anthem before leaving shortly after.

About 28 defendants were sentenced to up to five years behind bars with hard labour for use of force and inciting unrest.

Twenty-three others were given prison sentences of three years and six months with hard labour for violent and criminal actions.

The court handed twoyear terms to five accused of mobbing and assaulting police officers, while another 10 defendants were sentenced to one year.

Two defendants were acquitted, while proceedings against another suspect were terminated due to his death.