Kuwaiti election candidates freed after criticizing ruling family

Published April 22nd, 2009 - 11:23 GMT

Kuwait's public prosecution on Wednesday released two candidates standing in next month's election after detaining them for several days for criticising the ruling family, a legal source said. The two candidates, former MP Daifallah Buramia and municipal council member Khalifa al-Khorafi, were freed on bail of US$17,000 each, the source said, according to AFP.

 

Both were interrogated on charges of undermining the authority of the oil-rich Gulf state's ruler and allegedly criticising the al-Sabah ruling family in public, the source added.

 

On Sunday, the prosecution freed another candidate on bail of the same amount. Trade union leader Khaled al-Tahus had been held for 11 days. He was accused of undermining the authority of the emir after he told a public rally that tribesmen would resist security forces if they cracked down on tribal primary elections, illegal under Kuwaiti law.