Kuwaiti writer charged with damage to national interests

Kuwait City: A top Kuwaiti writer and government critic was on Monday officially charged with harming national interests and undermining the status of the Gulf state's ruler.

Mohammad Abdul Qader Al Jasem, also a journalist and lawyer, categorically denied the charges, insisting that his trial is purely political.

"It is untrue," Al Jasem said emphatically when criminal court judge Adul Al Huwaidi read out charges pressed by the public prosecution at the start of the trial.

"This is an entirely political case from start to finish," said Al Jasem, speaking from a metal cage in a courtroom overcrowded with family members, human rights activists and more than 20 defence lawyers.

The prosecution charged Al Jasem with undermining the status of the Emir, attacking the regime and spreading false news about the internal situation in Kuwait that harmed national interests, for which the penalty is several years in jail.

Initially, Al Jasem was accused of also instigating to overthrow the regime and remanded in custody for 21 days pending investigations. He has been in detention since May 11.

Defence lawyers called for his immediate release, saying he should be allowed to defend himself since he is a lawyer and citing his ill health.

The judge was expected to make a decision later on Monday.