Kuwait sentences 13 over controversial speech

Kuwait City: A Kuwaiti defence lawyer says a court in the Gulf nation has convicted and sentenced 13 people to two years in prison each for reading aloud a speech by a leading opposition figure challenging the country’s ruler.

Attorney Mohammad Al Humaidi says his clients were convicted on Wednesday for reciting the speech by former parliament member Musallam Al Barrak at rallies following his arrest in 2012.

In October 2012, Al Barrak gave the speech during a large anti-government protest. He was convicted of insulting the ruler over that address, but he was allowed to remain free on bail and continues to fight legal charges against him.