The Crime of Suicide
The article criticizes the legislative gap in Kuwait and calls for a law ensuring psychological treatment and confidentiality for suicide attempts.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
Suicide is not merely a personal decision an individual makes in a moment of despair; rather, it is a cry for help that tests the humanity of legislation and its capacity to protect its citizens. Under Kuwaiti law, legislative silence and the absence of a specific provision governing the handling of suicide attempters represent a critical issue requiring serious reflection and honest critique. The matter does not end with filing a security report or the patient’s physical recovery in the hospital; it demands explicit legislation mandating compulsory psychological treatment and rehabilitation, so that we may support this individual during their most vulnerable moments and guide them from the darkness of despair to become a productive member who builds their own life and serves their community and country.
“The legislative flaw: Kuwaiti law contains a significant gap and deficiency due to the lack of a specific legal provision addressing suicide attempters. The absence of punishment or regulated treatment constitutes passive silence, leaving the individual without legal protection against the recurrence of such attempts. In practice, the case is treated as a security alert or a physical emergency and is closed immediately, without addressing the psychological motives behind it. There is a national dimension to this serious issue: the suicide attempter is going through a temporary crisis, and the existence of a law that provides containment would save them, enabling them to become a productive and valuable element serving their country.”
I believe that the state’s responsibility is to protect the lives of individuals, which is an inherent duty of legislation. No individual should be left without legal protection during moments of extreme vulnerability. I recommend enacting explicit legislation mandating compulsory referral to psychological rehabilitation centers for anyone attempting to end their life. Additionally, I recommend including a clause that guarantees complete confidentiality for such cases and prevents any negative impact on their future employment or criminal record. I conclude by emphasizing that shifting the situation from “legislative absence and silence” to “therapeutic legal containment” is the path to fostering hope and building the individual.
