Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): The Kuwaiti security authorities released on Sunday (November 14, 2021) suspects in what is known as "Al-Abdali Cell", which includes a large number of Kuwaiti Shiite activists.

This move comes in the framework of a royal pardon, which included in its early stages the Al-Abdali cell, and the case of "covering up the accused of the Al-Abdali cell" in which the prominent Shiite cleric residing in Iran, Sheikh Hussein Al-Maatouk, as well as the case of "storming the council" in which the Kuwaiti opposition based in Turkey is accused under the leadership of former MP Muslim Al-Barrak.

Al-Barrak's family announced that he will return to Kuwait next Wednesday, after the amnesty decree was published on Saturday (November 13, 2021) in the Official Gazette and came into effect. Meanwhile, former MP and opposition figure Jamaan Al-Harbash, who also resides in Istanbul, will return two days earlier, along with a number of former MPs and opposition activists accused of storming the Parliament 10 years ago. 

Prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Hussein Al-Maatouk is expected to return to Kuwait within a month, as the decree gives the pardoned only one month to benefit from the amnesty, otherwise it will be considered null and void, according to a lawyer close to those included in the pardon.

A few weeks ago, Kuwait entered into a dialogue, in which MP Obaid Al-Wasami represented the opposition. The dialogue resulted in an agreement to pardon a large number of Kuwaitis, and will include in future stages tweeters and dozens of activists convicted of opinion crimes who are in prison or abroad. 

The next phase is expected to include a special amnesty for former MP Abdulhamid Dashti, who is sentenced to more than 70 years in prison, as well as activists residing in European countries, for prosecutions over political opinions.

The Kuwaiti opposition hopes that the amnesty decrees be a beginning for the new phase, especially with the resignation of the government, which is expected to include non-provocative opposition figures in its next composition, in order to defuse the crisis between the opposition and government.

Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah took office as the new ruler of Kuwait in December after the death of former Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad in the United States while receiving treatment.

Arabic Version