Justice Minister to 'Al-Siyasa': Our doors are open to legislative amendment proposals for study by relevant committees
Justice Minister Nasser Al-Samit announces the results of the debtors campaign and a decline in cases, and confirms the review of legislation.
Translated by Qiyas from السياسة — Original source
- Al-Sumeit: 16.539659 million KD revenue from the debtors’ campaign, with participation by over 138,000 donors
- 3,807 beneficiaries from the campaign, with 14,928 enforcement measures lifted against them
- Court cases decreased by 20% over nine months; the new penal code will reduce case numbers by an unprecedented margin
- The third phase of legislative review includes family law, personal status law, penal law, and economic laws
Justice Minister Advisor Nasser Al-Sumeit stated in an exclusive interview with “Al-Siyasa” that the Ministry’s doors are open to proposals regarding legal amendments, clarifying that such proposals are studied by relevant committees to assess their feasibility.
Al-Sumeit announced, during a press conference marking the conclusion of the 2026 Debtors’ Campaign, which launched last Ramadan, that total donations reached 16,539,659 Kuwaiti Dinars, with participation from 138,328 donors. The campaign benefited 3,807 debtors by fully or partially settling their court-ordered debts.
Al-Sumeit noted that some debtors did not benefit from the funds directly, as they were guarantors for others, but legal enforcement measures were applied against them in accordance with the law. He added that the Ministry is preparing to launch a larger campaign during the upcoming Ramadan.
16.5 Million KD Campaign Revenue
Al-Sumeit emphasized that the results of the Debtors’ Campaign reflect the community’s strong engagement and the spirit of solidarity and compassion characteristic of Kuwaitis. He stressed that the campaign was not merely an initiative to settle debts, but a humanitarian step aimed at alleviating burdens on debtors and their families, offering them a new opportunity to regain stability.
He added that the number of rulings issued against beneficiaries reached 5,645, while the number of enforcement measures lifted after payment totaled 14,928. These measures included lifting car and bank account seizures, removing travel bans, and lifting arrest warrants, alongside the release of civil detainees.
He clarified that debts and personal claims accounted for the largest share of rulings at 45%, followed by rental cases at 35%, personal status expenses at 16%, and other categories at 4%.
He noted that males constituted 81% of total beneficiaries, compared to 19% for females.
Legislative Review: The Most Important Third Phase
Justice Minister Advisor Nasser Al-Sumeit addressed the legislative system file, noting that courts previously handled approximately one million cases annually. He pointed out that, following directives from His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect and support him, to review all legislation, the Ministry has now reached the third phase of the review plan.
He explained that the third phase is the most critical, as it involves discussing several key laws, including family law, personal status law, and penal law, alongside economic laws that will also undergo review and development.
Al-Sumeit highlighted that the new penal code will significantly reduce the number of cases heard in courts by an unprecedented margin.
20% Decrease in Court Cases
In this context, Al-Sumeit revealed a noticeable decline in the number of court cases between January 1 and September 30, 2026, compared to the same period in 2024.
He stated that the total number of cases dropped from 834,965 in 2024 to 664,732 in 2026, a decrease of 170,233 cases, representing a 20% reduction.
He added that criminal cases across various courts witnessed a decline from 566,474 cases to 449,083 cases, a drop of 117,391 cases, representing a 21% decrease.
He noted that partial criminal appeals also recorded a decline, with orders decreasing from 5,676 orders in 2024 to 3,359 orders in 2026. Meanwhile, cases before the Court of Cassation fell by 39%, from 15,906 cases to 9,681 cases.
Performance orders recorded the largest decline at 60%
Al-Samit pointed out that performance order cases recorded the largest percentage decrease, dropping from 67,506 cases in 2024 to 27,326 cases in 2026, a reduction of 40,180 cases, amounting to a 60% decline.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Justice continuously monitors these indicators and statistics, given their importance in tracking litigation trends, measuring the volume of judicial work, and supporting efforts to develop the judicial system and enhance the efficiency of procedures and services provided to litigants.
Minister of Justice, Advisor Nasser Al-Samit, concluded his statement by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to fulfilling its humanitarian and social responsibilities, alongside continuing to develop judicial work and enhance service efficiency. He commended the efforts of all donors, contributors, and participating entities in the success of the 2026 Debtors Campaign.
