Kuwait: opposition accuses the government of foiling reforms

Kuwaiti liberal and Islamic opposition political groups accused on Thursday, the Kuwaiti government of "foiling" the political reforms in the country, by voting for postponing a decision in the parliament on mending the elections law.

A statement signed by seven groups represented by 20 members in the parliament, described the Kuwaiti government which is led by Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah as " standing against reforms," while stressing its determination to continue challenging " the plans to foil democracy."

The statement said " the session of the Kuwaiti nation council disclosed the government's stances against any reform. A matter which places it in confrontation of all political forces and groups."

However, the Kuwaiti government had surprised all by voting a proposal calling for postponing voting on a draft law calling for reducing number of elections circles from 25 to 10, until October. The supporters of reforms received on Wednesday another blow, as the parliament failed in convening a special session to discuss another reform project calling for amending the printing and publication law which was issued in 1961. This draft law calls on the government to reduce imprisonment penalty against journalists and editors as well as giving the chance for issuing new dailies after the government had decided to freeze this process more than two decades ago. This draft law also called for not jailing journalists except after the issuance of a final verdict from the court and state penalties of one year imprisonment, at the most for violations of religious nature and the call to topple the regime.