495 Criminals Are Free, How nice
Kuwait releases 495 prisoners to commemorate national holidays
KUWAIT CITY - Kuwait released 495 inmates from its Central Prison on Saturday to commemorate the country’s National and Liberation Day holidays, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.
The inmates were set free under a decree issued by Amir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior carried by KUNA. The decree also reduced jail sentences for another 194 prisoners.
The ministry statement did not itemize the nationalities of those granted the amnesty, nor did it specify what crimes the prisoners had committed. Such pardons traditionally do not apply to those convicted of murder, rape, or drug trafficking.
Kuwait’s National and Liberation Day holidays fall on February 25 and 26.
[Khaleeji Times]
That’s just fantastic. It’s the holidays so let’s release criminals back into society! Does anyone else think this is just too ridiculous? I know these might not be hard criminals but they still are criminals all the same. They are criminals who deserve their punishment. So why were they released?! I’m sorry, but I just can’t understand it. Criminals don’t deserve sympathy and that is what they have been given.
One thing I would have done instead, since it is the national holidays, is given all the deserving Bedouns their Kuwaiti nationalities.
Were the good people of our society rewarded or given gifts? This is a genuine question; I’m not being sarcastic.
February 26th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
most of the released so called criminals’ only crime was to write checks with non sufficient funds, and that’s not a reason to be jailed for
February 26th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
if they were tried and sentenced to be jailed then thats a good enough reason..
February 26th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
Well, snookie! Sometimes the punishment does not fit the crime!
It doesn’t make sense to lock up people who have bounced checks with hard-core criminals like rapists and murderers!
It is so easy to be flippant about it like you’ve just demonstrated… try using some heart and logic.
February 26th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
yeah i know but it just pisses me off :/
February 28th, 2006 at 10:12 am
I have agree with you and disagree at the same time. I would want to know what were their crimes before they should be released! But yes a lot of people especially expats get jailed for issueing checks with insufficient funds! Its a rediculous law, but the law thats even more rediculous is that if you are caught drunk and driving they take you to the local police station and keep you there over night, then they release you the next morning! Now thats just fantastic, people who issue bad checks get 25 to life, but drunk driving you only do a night on a hard bench that you would probably not remember!
So some laws need amending! But nobody is bothering!
March 1st, 2006 at 3:17 am
snookie, most of these are criminals who have already served their time and only have a few months left.
Much like letting someone out on parole in he U.S.
You either believe that a person can make a mistake and be rehabilitated or not.
I think most can, and I do believe most repent. Violent criminals and rapists in Kuwait usually remain in for the duration of their lives. So the ones who are bieng released are small time petty theft etc.
March 1st, 2006 at 10:37 am
Marzouq EXACTLY what i was thinking but didnt seem to get the words typed :/
MG, i guess you’re right.. i guess the article i read was too vague.. but i also guess that it still urks me none the less