Kuwaiti opposition deplores tightening measures against Islamic party

Eight Kuwaiti political and liberal Islamic organizations deplored what it called the tightened measures practiced by the authorities against al-Ummah party, of Islamic inclination, after its founders were brought to the attorney general under the charge of seeking to change the ruling system and changing their case from a minor crime to a state security crime.

In a statement these forces announced rejection of what it called the oppressive practices and stressed to stand in one line in the call to achieve more constitutional rights and public political rights and amending all restricting laws.

On Tuesday, the attorney general interrogated nine out of 15 activists of the party which was formed in January. But the men were released at a guarantee.

The Ummah party, which is not recognized by the government and has three supporters inside the parliament, was formed by several Salafeyah Islamists to be the first political party in the Gulf region.

The said party called on the government to reconsider the constitution in order to license banned parties in Kuwait, as in other Gulf states. The party's secretary general Hakim al-Muteiri said that his party calls for pluralism and political rotation using peaceful means.