Justice Minister: 92 percent drop in public official insult cases following legislative amendment
Kuwait - 19 - 9 (KUNA) -- Justice Minister and Legal Advisor Nasser Al-Samit announced on Saturday that cases of insulting public employees and assaulting them while performing their duties have decreased by 92 percent in the second year of implementing the legislative amendment, which took effect on September 15, 2024, by strengthening penalties in this regard.
Al-Samit told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the number of cases involving the insult of public employees and assault on them while performing their duties dropped to just 93 cases, compared to 1,174 cases in the year prior to the implementation of the legislative amendment, from September 15, 2023, to September 14, 2024.
He noted that the statistics compiled by the Ministry of Interior include cases involving all public employees, including security personnel, explaining that the number decreased to 493 cases during the first year of the amendment's implementation, from September 15, 2024, to September 14, 2025, representing a 58 percent decline.
He added that the number of cases continued to decline during the second year of the amendment's implementation, from September 15, 2025, to September 14, 2026, reaching only 93 cases, a decrease of 81 percent compared to the first year and 92 percent compared to the year prior to the amendment's implementation.
Al-Samit stated that Decree-Law No. 93 of 2024 was issued in accordance with the high directive of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect and preserve him, who affirmed that "respecting security personnel is part of respecting the system of governance, and I will absolutely not allow any infringement upon their dignity and respect while they are performing their official duties."
He clarified that the amendment strengthened penalties for insulting public employees, assaulting them, or resisting them by force or violence, and established stronger protection for judges, members of the Public Prosecution, and members of the police force, the army, and the National Guard. It also prohibited the victim from withdrawing their complaint, reaching a settlement with the accused, or granting them amnesty.
The Minister commended the efforts of the Ministry of Interior and security personnel, affirming that the achieved results reflect the synergy among state institutions in establishing respect for public employees while they perform their duties, safeguarding the dignity of the state, and reinforcing the rule of law. (End) N.S. / T.M.A.
