Newly Elected Kuwaiti Lawmaker Jailed For 2 Years

Kuwaiti media reported that Kuwait's top court sentenced a newly elected lawmaker to two years in prison in an unprecedented decision for a sitting parliamentarian.

MP Marzouk Al Khalifa and 28 other defendants were sentenced to two years in jail on charges of unlawfully organizing an informal tribal election in 2020.

Since late August, Al Khalifa has been in prison, and he ran in Kuwait's early parliamentary election on September 29. He was among 50 winners in the polls.

Monday, the Court of Cassation upheld the appeals court's March jailing ruling in the case.

As a result of the verdict, Al Khalifa cannot exercise his parliamentary duties until he gets a pardon from the country's emir, Al Anba reported.

This was the first time a candidate in Kuwait stood for parliament, won, and was sentenced to prison while in prison, according to the paper.

On October 18, Kuwait's new parliament will hold its first session.

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