Strasbourg, 11/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - Learning “with concern” that a Kuwaiti citizen has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for insulting the emir and a religious sect, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton told EUROPE on 11 June that “the EU will be following closely the proceedings in appeal, with the hope that the sentence can be reviewed”. The spokesperson recalled that, despite the nature of the offence, “the EU strongly advocates for the respect of the right to freedom of expression”.
A Kuwaiti lawcourt sentenced Houda al-Ajmi to 11 years in prison on 10 June for words on the social network Twitter that were considered insulting towards the emir, for a call to topple to regime, and for improper use of her mobile phone. Ajmi has rejected these accusations. Her sentence is due to take immediate effect.
The Kuwaiti government launched a campaign to crack down on online protesters in October 2012. Several cyber-activists have been sentenced to prison for words considered offensive to the emir. (CG/transl.fl)