Friday, May 04, 2012
Gulf News
Manama Kuwait’s parliament yesterday approved a bill imposing the death penalty on anyone who insults God, the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) or his relatives.
The move brings the bill a step closer to passing. The bill must still be approved by Kuwait’s ruler before it becomes law and follows a high-profile case of suspected blasphemy on Twitter which caused an uproar in the country.
The proposed amendment to the penal code was endorsed by 41 lawmakers and opposed by seven, Sabr news site reported.
The endorsement followed heated arguments between those who insisted on the significance of the amendment and those who said that it gave the wrong idea about Islam in general and Kuwait in particular.
Islamist MPs have pushed for the amendment following the emergence of postings by Gulf nationals on social networks that allegedly insulted or lacked due respect to the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his wife Aisha.
The lawmakers said that social platforms should be regulated to ensure that they are not used to undermine Kuwait’s social unity and values. One MP warned that he would expand the issue if the move to amend the law and impose the death penalty was stalled.
Calls to ease sectarian tensions through open dialogue have largely been ignored. Last month, Mohammad Al Mulaifi, a writer and columnist, was sentenced to seven years in jail and slapped with an $18,000 (Dh66,114) fine after he published remarks deemed offensive to Shiites.
A court is yet to decide the fate of Hamad Al Naqi who was arrested in March after he allegedly insulted the Prophet and his wife in social network posts.
By Habib Toumi?Bureau chief
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
