Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT1788
2006-05-17 13:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAITI EDITOR RELEASED WITHOUT BAIL AFTER FUROR
how-toVZCZCXRO8029 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHKU #1788 1371335 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 171335Z MAY 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4537 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUWAIT 001788
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI EDITOR RELEASED WITHOUT BAIL AFTER FUROR
OVER HIS DETENTION
REF: A. KUWAIT 1768
B. KUWAIT 768
UNCLAS KUWAIT 001788
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI EDITOR RELEASED WITHOUT BAIL AFTER FUROR
OVER HIS DETENTION
REF: A. KUWAIT 1768
B. KUWAIT 768
1. (U) Hamad Turki Buyabis, editor of the Kuwaiti weekly
Al-Shaab who was detained on May 15 for breaking Kuwait's
Press and Publications law (ref A),was released from custody
May 16 without having to post bail. Buyabis refused to pay
bail following questioning by the Public Prosecutor's office
over his publication of an interview by Arabic daily Al-Rai
Al-Aam editor Jassem Al-Boodai in which Boodai made critical
remarks about the Amir while speaking privately to a U.S.
CODEL.
2. (U) The Public Prosecutor's office said that it had
released him on "personal guarantee" (i.e. no money) out of
respect for Kuwaiti journalism and according to its usual
practice of treating the press with mercy. The office went
on to say it respects the freedom of the press, and that the
Press and Publication Law does not include imprisonment as a
punishment. (Note: The law only calls for imprisonment for
criticizing God or Islam. (ref B) End Note.) According to
the Al-Qabas Arabic daily, Public Prosecutor Hamid Al-Othman
reassured the head of the Journalists' Society via telephone
that his office does not have a predisposition against
journalists and that Buyabis was responsible for his
imprisonment because he had not agreed to pay the bail. An
editor of one of Kuwait's Arabic dailies told PDOff that the
release stemmed from the Journalists Society and general
public reaction to Buyabis' jailing.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
LEBARON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI EDITOR RELEASED WITHOUT BAIL AFTER FUROR
OVER HIS DETENTION
REF: A. KUWAIT 1768
B. KUWAIT 768
1. (U) Hamad Turki Buyabis, editor of the Kuwaiti weekly
Al-Shaab who was detained on May 15 for breaking Kuwait's
Press and Publications law (ref A),was released from custody
May 16 without having to post bail. Buyabis refused to pay
bail following questioning by the Public Prosecutor's office
over his publication of an interview by Arabic daily Al-Rai
Al-Aam editor Jassem Al-Boodai in which Boodai made critical
remarks about the Amir while speaking privately to a U.S.
CODEL.
2. (U) The Public Prosecutor's office said that it had
released him on "personal guarantee" (i.e. no money) out of
respect for Kuwaiti journalism and according to its usual
practice of treating the press with mercy. The office went
on to say it respects the freedom of the press, and that the
Press and Publication Law does not include imprisonment as a
punishment. (Note: The law only calls for imprisonment for
criticizing God or Islam. (ref B) End Note.) According to
the Al-Qabas Arabic daily, Public Prosecutor Hamid Al-Othman
reassured the head of the Journalists' Society via telephone
that his office does not have a predisposition against
journalists and that Buyabis was responsible for his
imprisonment because he had not agreed to pay the bail. An
editor of one of Kuwait's Arabic dailies told PDOff that the
release stemmed from the Journalists Society and general
public reaction to Buyabis' jailing.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
LEBARON