29 June 2016
MPs hit back at critics

Cabinet endorses amendments

KUWAIT: A number of MPs who voted on controversial changes to the election law to deprive those insulting religion and the Amir from contesting polls, yesterday lashed back at critics of the law, with one lawmaker saying the amendments target those who plotted a coup detente against the regime. The new amendments bar those convicted in a final court ruling of insulting the Almighty Allah, the prophets and the Amir from contesting parliamentary polls.

This would amount to barring dozens of opposition leaders and activists, including former MPs, from running for office. Political groups and activists have criticized the change as a breach of the constitution and as an attempt to stifle democracy and freedom. To become effective, the new amendments must be endorsed by the government and signed by the Amir.

Al-Anbaa newspaper said yesterday that the Cabinet has endorsed the amendments in its meeting on Monday. MP Hamad Al-Harashani said in a statement that those opposing the new law means they support insulting the Almighty and the Amir. The lawmaker said that Islam, the constitution and the law explicitly call against violating the Sharia law or disobeying the leader of the nation.

He said that a 'deviant group' has exploited the so-called Arab Spring protests in several Arab countries and tried to agitate the people to take to the street in an attempt to carry out a coup detente. He said the wisdom of the Amir and others has foiled their plot. Harshani said that approving the law came to safeguard the security of the country and strike those who may plot to disrupt national security or instigate people against the regime by organizing demonstrations for the aim of scoring political gains.

Meanwhile, Islamist Salafi MP Abdulrahman Al-Jeeran blasted a statement by the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Islamic Constitutional Movement for criticizing the amendments, saying the change aim at stability in the country.

© Kuwait Times 2016