KUWAIT CITY: Two leading international human rights organizations have welcomed the release of prominent Kuwaiti writer Mohammad Abdulqader Al-Jassem but urged the Gulf state to drop charges against him.
"Though Jassem is out of jail for now, the pending charges against him show that Kuwait’s state security laws are being misused to stifle criticism," Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The government should drop the charges against Jassem and focus on safeguarding freedom of expression," the New York-based group said.
The criminal court released Jassem on Monday on a 6,850-dollar bail after 49 days behind bars on charges of undermining the emir’s status, attacking the regime and spreading false information damaging to Kuwait’s national interests.
Jassem, 54, has denied the charges and said his trial was politically-motivated.
Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders also called for dropping charges against Jassem.
"We are very relieved to learn of Jassem’s release, even if it is conditional, as his detention was utterly unjust," the Paris-based group said shortly after the writer was freed.
"We continue to call for the complete withdrawal of the charges against him, as all he did was express a personal opinion verbally and in writing. This would enhance Kuwait’s stature," it said.
Jassem is due to appear in court again on September 20 and faces several years in jail if convicted.
