Kuwait ex-MP Waleed Al Tabtabai’s jail term doubled to four years

Dubai: The Kuwaiti Court of Cassation has overturned a previous ruling by the Appeals Court and sentenced former MP Walid Al Tabtabai to four years in prison — doubling the two-year term handed down in September 2024.

The case stems from a state security charge related to a social media post deemed an infringement on the powers of the country’s Emir.

The 61-year-old Islamist politician was found guilty of overstepping the constitutional authority of the Emir through a post published on the X platform. The controversial message, which affirmed Al Tabtabai’s support for the constitutional freedoms and rights of the Kuwaiti people, was interpreted by the court as a direct interference in the Emir’s authority.

The post emerged shortly after Emir Meshal Al Ahmad ordered the dissolution of parliament in May 2024 and suspended several constitutional provisions for up to four years — an unprecedented move that drew both domestic and international scrutiny.

Initially, Al Tabtabai was sentenced to four years in prison by the Criminal Court in June 2024. This sentence was later reduced to two years by the Appeals Court in September.

However, the Court of Cassation has now reinstated and upheld the original four-year sentence, effectively concluding the judicial process.

Al Tabtabai has denied authorship of the post, claiming it was fabricated by political opponents. He maintains that the message does not reflect his views and has insisted on his innocence throughout the proceedings.