Kuwait licenses a judicial society, releases detainees
Kuwait, Politics, 8/25/2004

The Kuwaiti government has agreed to give the first license of the first society defending human rights in the country.

Jasem al-Qutami, the chairman of the Kuwaiti society for human rights which was declared said that "this step confirms the seriousness of the government to recognize the importance of the role played by human rights activists in Kuwait."

Al-Qutami -- who is also the chairman of the Arab organization for human rights -- indicated that the activity of the society started in Kuwait as a branch for the Arab organization since the 1980s, adding that the " society will continue challenging certain pending issues including "people without identity " the so-called "al-Badoun" and withstanding challenges taking place against house Ð servants (maids) in Kuwait."

On the other hand, the Kuwaiti judiciary released at a guarantee two persons accused together with a group of Islamists activists of recruiting fighters to fight the American forces in Iraq.

The lawyer of the released persons, Abdul Rahman al-Rashidi, said that the judge ordered the release of the Saudi Shallal al-Zufeiri and the Kuwaiti Ahmad al-Oteibi after each of them paid a guarantee of 300 Kuwaiti dinars (1,000 dollars).

Al-Rashidi said the " two men deliberately denies all accusations addressed to them and stressed they were exposed to torture in order to give their preliminary confessions. They also stressed they were tortured to give preliminary confessions and threatened and also tortured by the state security members." The two men were accused of owning weapons illegally and planning to attack the American forces and affiliate to a "terrorist group."

Thereby the number of released persons increased to five in this case, while the judge renewed custody for other 10 for two weeks.

The Kuwaiti authorities, which suspect some 11 Islamic activists, said they are encouraging the Kuwaitis to head to Iraq to fight the American forces. Among those are three handed over by Syria in July to Kuwait.

To this end, the Kuwaiti authorities said it holds 14 persons and is searching for other 4 since July.

Worthy mentioning that Kuwait is a base for changing the American forces in Iraq. It hosts 25,000 American troops, continuously.

Previous Stories:
  Kuwait launches a campaign to rehabilitate youths coming back from Iraq   (8/18/2004)
  Detainees in Kuwait observe hunger strike in protest of maltreatment   (8/9/2004)
  Kuwait interrogates mosques Imams on the question of al-Jihad in Iraq   (8/7/2004)
  Kuwait: opposition accuses the government of foiling reforms   (6/25/2004)
  Sheikh Sabah warns against sectarianism: if it flares up, it will burn all of us   (4/6/2004)

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