22 November 2013

U.S. Should Speak Out Against Human Rights Violations Caused by Kuwaiti Blasphemy Laws

Human Rights First condemns the sentencing of Musaab Shamsah to five years in prison in Kuwait. He has been convicted of insulting the Prophet after posting a message on Twitter about the role of imams in Islam. According to press reports, his lawyer noted that he had deleted the tweet ten minutes after publishing it.

.... Shamsah was arrested in May 2013 and charged in accordance with article 111 of Kuwait’s penal code, which prohibits mocking religion including “ridicule, contempt, or belittlement of religion or religious doctrine.”

He was also accused of violating the 2012 National Unity Law, which criminalizes the publication of material offensive to religious groups. [Human Rights First] Read more