Capital Punishment Kuwait

The French and German governments and two human rights groups Wednesday joined U.N. Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar in urging Kuwait not to execute convicted wartime collaborators. But a senior Kuwaiti official dismissed growing international criticism of the martial-law trials as premature. The official said that the more than 200 verdicts, which include 21 death sentences, have yet to be reviewed by a special judicial panel, approved by the crown prince and sanctioned by the emir.

Bowing to international pressure, Kuwait's crown prince said Wednesday that he has commuted the death sentences of all 29 people convicted of collaborating with the Iraqi occupation, the official news agency reported. Kuwaiti defense lawyers and human rights activists rejoiced at the news that the sentences have been reduced to life imprisonment.

Kuwait's martial-law court Tuesday sentenced eight people to death, six of them in absentia, for collaborating with Iraqi occupation forces. All eight were charged with aiding the enemy and joining the Iraqi popular army, a civilian militia. Khalil Jumaa Aboudi of Iraq and Salim Hashoush Rashid, a stateless Arab, were the only two in court. The nationalities of the others were not known.

Despite growing international criticism, Kuwait's judicial system Thursday sentenced eight more people to death for collaborating with Iraq during the emirate's occupation. The death sentences were the most returned in a single day since the martial-law courts began their work May 19. Among those condemned Thursday were Jordanian brothers Mamoun and Mohammed Masoud, of Palestinian origin, convicted of collaborating and carrying unlicensed weapons.

Six journalists and editors were sentenced to death Saturday for working at a pro-Iraqi newspaper during the occupation of Kuwait. Eight defendants were acquitted, including a plumber and a janitor who claimed he only swept the floor of the Al Nidaa newspaper. Ten others, mainly secretaries and clerical workers who could have faced the death penalty, were given 10-year prison terms, to be followed by deportation. Only one of the 24 defendants was Kuwaiti.

Despite growing international criticism, Kuwait's judicial system Thursday sentenced eight more people to death for collaborating with Iraq during the emirate's occupation. The death sentences were the most returned in a single day since the martial-law courts began their work May 19. Among those condemned Thursday were Jordanian brothers Mamoun and Mohammed Masoud, of Palestinian origin, convicted of collaborating and carrying unlicensed weapons.

Bowing to international pressure, Kuwait's crown prince said Wednesday that he has commuted the death sentences of all 29 people convicted of collaborating with the Iraqi occupation, the official news agency reported. Kuwaiti defense lawyers and human rights activists rejoiced at the news that the sentences have been reduced to life imprisonment.

Kuwait will execute hijackers who injure passengers or damage planes or airports in the future, Minister of State for Services Issa Mohammed al Mazidi said. He told the Al Watan newspaper that the planned new law will apply to all airliners using Kuwait's airport. Hijackers seized a Kuwaiti Boeing 747 last month and killed two Kuwaiti passengers at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus. The hijackers were allowed to go free after releasing their remaining hostages at Algiers airport.

Five Iraqis and a Kuwaiti were sentenced to death Saturday for a foiled attempt to assassinate former President George Bush in April, 1993. Discovery of the plot led President Clinton to order a retaliatory missile attack on Baghdad. Six other Iraqis and a Kuwaiti were given prison terms ranging from six months to 12 years for their involvement in the plot, which was uncovered the day before Bush arrived to be honored for his leadership in liberating Kuwait from Iraq in the Persian Gulf War.

The French and German governments and two human rights groups Wednesday joined U.N. Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar in urging Kuwait not to execute convicted wartime collaborators. But a senior Kuwaiti official dismissed growing international criticism of the martial-law trials as premature. The official said that the more than 200 verdicts, which include 21 death sentences, have yet to be reviewed by a special judicial panel, approved by the crown prince and sanctioned by the emir.

Kuwait's martial-law court Tuesday sentenced eight people to death, six of them in absentia, for collaborating with Iraqi occupation forces. All eight were charged with aiding the enemy and joining the Iraqi popular army, a civilian militia. Khalil Jumaa Aboudi of Iraq and Salim Hashoush Rashid, a stateless Arab, were the only two in court. The nationalities of the others were not known.

Six journalists and editors were sentenced to death Saturday for working at a pro-Iraqi newspaper during the occupation of Kuwait. Eight defendants were acquitted, including a plumber and a janitor who claimed he only swept the floor of the Al Nidaa newspaper. Ten others, mainly secretaries and clerical workers who could have faced the death penalty, were given 10-year prison terms, to be followed by deportation. Only one of the 24 defendants was Kuwaiti.

Kuwait will execute hijackers who injure passengers or damage planes or airports in the future, Minister of State for Services Issa Mohammed al Mazidi said. He told the Al Watan newspaper that the planned new law will apply to all airliners using Kuwait's airport. Hijackers seized a Kuwaiti Boeing 747 last month and killed two Kuwaiti passengers at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus. The hijackers were allowed to go free after releasing their remaining hostages at Algiers airport.