Manama: The lawyers of a former Kuwaiti lawmaker who was last week barred from seeking a new term said on Sunday that they had challenged the decision.
“We have filed a case against the decision by the interior ministry against our client,” Al Hameedi Al Sabeei, the lawyer for ex-MP Faisal Al Mislim, said. “The court is looking into the case on Monday and we are hopeful that the ban on Al Mislim to run in the elections will be lifted,” he said.
An ad-hoc committee to vet the applications of the candidates for the parliamentary elections next month has barred 15 hopefuls from running, claiming that there were court verdicts against them or that they did not have an impeccable reputation, both of which are crucial conditions for the candidacies.
The decision not to allow Al Mislim to run was based on a court ruling last week that found the former lawmaker guilty of breaking rules after he displayed a private cheque at a parliamentary session.
The bank that issued the cheque charged that Al Mislim’s attitude was a breach of privacy and sued him.
The ban on Al Milsim sparked furore in Kuwait and his supporters threatened to pull out of the race, organize street protests or grill the interior ministry when the parliament resumes.
Many supporters said that Al Milsim had been targeted for being a vociferous leader in the movement that piled up pressure on Shaikh Nasser Al Mohammad to step down as prime minister.
Shaikh Nasser resigned in late November and the parliament was dissolved in December, paving the way for elections. Both the resignation and the dissolution of the parliament were key demands by the opposition that took to the street to augment its political pressure.
Around 400,000 Kuwaitis are scheduled to cast their ballots on February 2 to choose 50 lawmakers.
Candidates have until January 25 to pull out of the race where tribes and sects remain the most crucial factors.
