Kuwait rejects Swiss criticism of its judicial rulings

Kuwait rejected on Monday Switzerland's interference in Kuwaiti domestic affairs before the 23rd session of the UN Council for Human Rights, and its criticism of Kuwaiti court death sentencing last April. Kuwait's permanent advisor to the United Nations, Malik Hussein Al-Wazzan, told the council, in response to the Swiss criticism, "The death penalty is an issue of the Islamic laws, as it represents the state's sovereignty, and we forbid interference in our policies or politics." Al-Wazzan stressed that Kuwait is committed to applying the provisions of Islam, but was incumbent upon the Swiss delegation to the United Nations to communicate with Kuwait to clarify the facts on this issue. Affirming that the death penalty was imposed after enough verifications, and not for political attraction. "The Swiss delegation is well aware that death penalties have not been implemented in Kuwait since 2007 and is being implemented after passing through several judicial regulations, several cases take years of revision before ruling a death sentence," the Kuwaiti diplomat stated. Switzerland denounced to the council the lifting of death sentences imposed by several states including Kuwait, with referral to three cases of death penalty last April. Switzerland called upon those countries to suspend those convictions and lessen the sentencing. Al-Wazzan stressed that eliminating the death penalty is not bound by international law and its implementation meets the requirements of international law as specified in the human rights bodies. He added, article six of the International Covenant, stipulates that "the death penalty may not be imposed arbitrarily and can be used for the most serious crimes" as is the case in many democratic countries, and there is no obligation to stop it. It is noted that the 23rd session of the UN Human Rights Council continues from May 27 to June 14, to discuss human rights issues, and reports of experts involved, reactions of states and non-governmental organizations.