KUWAIT CITY // Kuwait has released seven opposition activists, including a woman, who were in prison for insulting the ruler on Twitter after he pardoned them last week, the interior ministry said Wednesday.
Dozens of other opposition activists and former lawmakers being tried on similar charges were not included in the pardon issued by Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on the occasion of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
The six men and the woman were released from the central prison around midnight Tuesday, the ministry said in a statement.
They were serving various jail terms after being convicted of insulting the emir through Twitter, a crime punishable by a maximum of five years in jail under the oil-rich Gulf state's penal code.
The pardoned activists include Sara Al Darees, a teacher, who was in jail after the appeals court upheld her 20-month jail sentence last month. She however spent only about a week in jail.
A second woman, Huda Al Ajmi, who was handed an 11-year jail term, was not covered by the pardon because her sentence is not yet final.
International rights groups have criticised Kuwait's practice of jailing opposition members for "insulting" the emir and have called on the authorities to amend the law that prohibits criticism of the ruler.
The emir's pardon came a few days after a parliamentary election that was boycotted by the main opposition groups in protest against an amendment to the electoral law.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Kandahar%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ric%20Roman%20Waugh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EGerard%20Butler%2C%20Navid%20Negahban%2C%20Ali%20Fazal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
