Emir asked to clarify draft law for regulating Internet

Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard wrote today to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, requesting clarification of a draft law for regulating the Internet that was announced by the minister for religious endowment and Islamic affairs, Abdallah Al-Muhaylbi, who is also the communications minister. The bill is currently being discussed by the ministries of communications and information. "Your Highness, Reporters Without Borders is closely following the current debate in your emirate about regulating and controlling online content. The minister for religious endowment and Islamic affairs, Abdallah Al-Muhaylbi, last week told the newspaper Al Watan that the government plans to present a draft law for controlling and organising websites and political blogs with the aim of protecting public order, ensuring respect for decency and preserving the values of Kuwaiti society. Our organisation is worried about the abuses that could be committed in the name of such a law and hopes that certain guarantees will be adopted to protect free expression before it is submitted to parliament. Your government has carried out reforms since 2006 that have raised hopes about progress in respect for press freedom. Legislative amendments have allowed the creation of daily newspapers covering general news, with the result that Kuwait's print media is no longer limited to five newspapers. Media are now able to bring a complaint before an administrative court if the authorities refuse to give them a licence. This freedom that you have accorded to the press must not be compromised by an Internet law that turns out to be repressive. Reporters Without Borders would therefore like to ask you to provide the clarification that is needed so that this bill can be understood. We appreciate that it is important to regulate the Internet but we also know that this type of law can lead to online censorship. We remind you that in Kuwait, journalists can still be imprisoned for any activity “contrary to national interests.” The Internet must not be subjected to the same kind of abuses. I look forward to your reply. Respectfully"