Zuhair Al Mahmeed sentenced to 15 years in prison in Kuwait following an unfair trial
Timeline
November 14, 2021: Al Mahmeed is released on the basis of an amnesty law.
March 18, 2021: MENA Rights Group and JL Human Rights Consulting provide follow-up information to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, highlighting the lack of implementation of their Opinion by the Kuwaiti authorities six months after its adoption.
August 27, 2020: The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issues Opinion 54/2020, stating that Al Mahmeed is being detained arbitrarily and calling on the authorities to immediately release him.
January 30, 2020: MENA Rights Group and JL Human Rights Consulting submit a request for opinion to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
June 18, 2018: Kuwaiti Supreme Court finds Al Mahmeed guilty of the state security charges and increases his sentence from five to 15 years in prison with hard labour.
July 21, 2016: Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the Court of First Instance
September 15, 2015: Court of First Instance sentences Al Mahmeed to five years in prison for the possession of weapons without license, but declared him innocent of all national security charges.
August 19, 2015: Al Mahmeed is charged with “spying for Iran and its agent Hezbollah”, “possession of weapons” and “plotting to carry out hostile acts including spreading panic and disorder in Kuwait”.
August 15, 2015: Al Mahmeed is arrested at his office in Kuwait city by intelligence and police officers.