The Kuwaiti Court of Cassation sentenced on Sunday two current and six former MPs for three years and six months imprisonment and another former MP for two years in the “National Assembly” case related to the storming of the country's parliament in 2011.
The court issued a sentence to imprison five activists for three years and six months and another two activists for two years.
It also acquitted 17 suspects and abstained from a verdict against 34 others in the same case.
Former MP and opposition leader Musallam Al Barrak, in addition to current MPs Jumaan Al Harbash and Waleed Al-Tabtabai were among those sentenced on Sunday for their involvement in the storming case.
Al-Tabtabai said he would present a “petition opposing the verdict,” alluding to refer to the Constitutional Court in case his demand was rejected.
Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim brushed aside reports an extraordinary session would be held during the summer recess, following the court sentence against the current MPs, Kuwait’s news agency KUNA reported on Sunday.
It quoted Al-Ghanim as saying that he would await the official verdict of the Court of Cassation before deciding the relevant constitutional measures.
Speaking to reporters before leaving the house, the Speaker said he would be talk to the press about the measures when he receives the verdict.
“The measures would be adopted during the third regular term which would start next October,” he said.
On November 16, 2011, demonstrators and opposition MPs stormed Kuwait's parliament building demanding that the then prime minister step down. The MPs then occupied the main chamber and sang the national anthem before leaving a short time later.
Last November, around 66 defendants were sentenced to up to five years in jail for convictions related to the storming.
