Kuwait’s Criminal Court, State Security Circuit, on Thursday issued prison sentences against 11 defendants, including cleric Hussein Al-Maatouq, who resides outside the country, sentencing him to five years’ imprisonment with hard labor and immediate enforcement in a case involving inciting sectarian strife.
The court, chaired by Counselor Nasser Al-Bader and comprising judges Omar Al-Mulaifi, Abdullah Al-Faleh, and Salem Al-Zayed, sentenced Hussein Al-Maatouq to five years’ imprisonment with hard labor and immediate enforcement. In other cases, the court acquitted two defendants of charges of spreading false news, while sentencing a third defendant to three years in prison.
The court also issued varying sentences in cases related to joining a banned group, ranging from three to 10 years’ imprisonment against four defendants after convicting them of the charges brought against them.
In three cases related to inciting sectarian strife, the court sentenced defendants to prison terms of three and five years, while deciding to refrain from punishing a third defendant while requiring him to post bail of 1,000 Kuwaiti dinars.
In a state security case, the court acquitted the defendant, while in another case involving violation of the law, it decided to refrain from punishing another defendant while requiring him to post bail of 3,000 Kuwaiti dinars.
Citizenship Withdrawn From 316 People
In a separate development, five decrees and two decisions were issued in Kuwait on Thursday withdrawing Kuwaiti citizenship from 316 people.
Decree No. 72 of 2026 stipulated the withdrawal of citizenship from 288 people and those who acquired it through dependency.
Decree No. 73 withdrew citizenship certificates from five people and those who acquired them through dependency, while Decree No. 74 withdrew citizenship from two people and those who acquired it through dependency.
Decree No. 75 of 2026 also stipulated the withdrawal of citizenship from one person and those who acquired it through dependency, while Decree No. 78 withdrew citizenship certificates from three people and those who acquired them through dependency.
Decision No. 84 of 2026 stipulated the withdrawal of citizenship certificates from 11 people and those who acquired them through dependency, while Decision No. 125 withdrew citizenship certificates from six people and those who acquired them through dependency.
