On Wednesday, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah has ordered to launch a process to determine the principles for pardoning political dissidents. This came while negotiations between the appointed government and the Kuwaiti parliament members have been pursued within the scope of “national dialogue” launched in early October.
According to the statement issued by Emir’s Office, Sheikh Nawaf employed the parliament speaker, the prime minister, and the head of the supreme judicial council to review the conditions and terms of the amnesty before it would be brought into force through a decree.
The statement indicated that the pardoning would include “some Kuwaitis sentenced in past cases” without providing further information. It was speculated that around 40 MPs issued a call for amnesty.
Following negotiations between the government and parliament to improve “political stability” and cooperation within the executive and legislative bodies, Kuwait’s Emir took the move depending on his constitutional prerogative, the statement added.
The “national dialogue” process aims to resolve the disagreement between the government and the elected parliament, which barriers to legislative works. The efforts to improve state finances and take measures, including a debt law that would pave the way for the government to reach global markets, are being hampered due to the stand-off.
The dissidents cover former MPs who participated in a 2011 parliament storming over alleged government bribery and mismanagements, as well as other Kuwaitis who overtly attacked the Emir or other Gulf rulers, which is an offense requiring jail sentence.
