Criminal
A 1960 penal code with sharia influence on morality offences
The Penal Code of 1960 predates independence and codifies most offences. Sharia influences the treatment of morality and family-related offences.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Criminal courts with appeal and cassation. State Security Court for security offences.
- Deadline — 4 days for police detention before referral to the prosecution
- Deadline — 20 days to appeal a criminal judgment
Governing law
- Penal Code, Law 16 of 1960
- Criminal Procedure Law, Law 17 of 1960
- Law 63 of 2015 on Cybercrime
In practice
Alcohol is entirely prohibited in Kuwait, which distinguishes it from the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar, and possession or consumption is a criminal matter rather than a licensing one. The 2015 cybercrime law is broadly drafted and prosecutions for online criticism of the Emir, the judiciary or friendly states are a live risk. Blasphemy and insulting religion are offences. Kuwait retains the death penalty and has carried out executions in recent years. The code's age means it is heavily overlaid by amendment and special legislation, so the consolidated text matters more than the original.