Imprisoned Kuwaiti individual for a period of three years, slapped with a fine of 5,000 dinars
In Kuwait, the Cybercrime Department of the Interior Ministry is taking a firm stance against individuals who violate public morals and incite debauchery through social media.
Recently, a Kuwaiti citizen was sentenced to three years in prison with hard labor and fined 5,000 Kuwaiti dinars for posting videos on Snapchat that were deemed immoral and inciting deviant behavior[1][2]. The court accepted the presented evidence as proof of the citizen's intent and actions. The Cybercrime Department described the defendant's posts as a "blatant violation of societal values" and a "serious breach of the law"[1].
This is not an isolated incident. Another Kuwaiti influencer was sentenced to one year in prison and permanent deportation after sharing indecent videos on social media, with her mobile phone confiscated as evidence. The court concluded that the posts violated public decency laws and Kuwait’s cultural and societal values[3].
It's important to note that the law in Kuwait also covers filming or sharing footage without authorization. Legal experts clarify that filming in public is punishable when done without prior approval by relevant authorities, particularly when footage is publicly shared on social media. There is some legal nuance: filming to report crimes to authorities might be tolerated, but publicly exposing such content without consent or approval risks prosecution for violating privacy and public decency[5].
The defendant in the first case has the right to appeal the verdict. The investigations revealed that the citizen was engaging in "immoral acts". The news about the conviction was reported by Gulf News, and updates can be followed on various platforms, including the website, Instagram, and Facebook[1][2][3][5].
This strict enforcement of laws protecting public morality online serves as a reminder to all citizens about the importance of respecting societal values and maintaining decency in their online activities.
[1] Gulf News. (2022). Kuwaiti man sentenced to three years in prison for immoral acts on Snapchat. Retrieved from https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/kuwait/kuwaiti-man-sentenced-to-three-years-in-prison-for-immoral-acts-on-snapchat-1.1660991132583
[2] Arab News. (2022). Kuwaiti man gets three years in prison for Snapchat videos. Retrieved from https://www.arabnews.com/node/1992941/media
[3] Gulf News. (2021). Kuwaiti influencer sentenced to one year in prison and deportation for sharing indecent videos on social media. Retrieved from https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/kuwait/kuwaiti-influencer-sentenced-to-one-year-in-prison-and-deportation-for-sharing-indecent-videos-on-social-media-1.1635470504746
[4] Al-Rai. (2021). Kuwaiti man sentenced to three years in prison for Snapchat videos. Retrieved from https://www.alraimedia.com/ar/kuwait/news/1201821.html
[5] Al-Seyassah. (2021). Filming in public places and sharing the footage on social media is punishable. Retrieved from https://www.al-seyassah.com/details/495313
In the context of Kuwait's strong stance against online violations, the Cybercrime Department might also enforce laws related to general-news, such as reporting on crime-and-justice cases that incite immoral behavior and breach public decency through social media. Recently, two Kuwaiti citizens were sentenced for such offenses, resulting in imprisonment and fines, emphasizing the importance of adhering to societal values in the realm of general-news and crime-and-justice matters as well.
