Court clears editor in defamation case

The Criminal Court, citing Article 172 of the Kuwaiti Penal Code, acquitted, yesterday, the Editor-in-Chief of daily Al Seyassah and the Arab Times newspapers Ahmad Al Jarallah and ordered the plaintiff to pay 20 Kuwaiti Dinars (about Dh250) in court fees.

The case was filed against Al Jarallah by retired Major General Jamil Al Sayyed, former director of general security in Lebanon.

Al Sayyed filed a lawsuit against Al Jarallah accusing him of defaming his name.

The court, in its verdict, said Article 36 of the Kuwaiti Constitution stipulates "Freedom of opinion and of scientific research shall be guaranteed. Every person shall have the right to express and propagate his opinion verbally, in writing or otherwise, in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the law.

"Article 37 stipulates Freedom of the press and publication shall be guaranteed in accordance with the conditions and manners specified by law," the court added.

"The article published by Jarallah had no intention of abusing the plaintiff. To the contrary the article dealt with an international issue at the time of the assassination of Rafik Hariri, former prime minister of Lebanon which was also published by international media, including the Lebanese daily newspaper Al Nahar."

The court ruled the article was published in public interest to uncover the mystery behind the assassination of Lebanese leader.