On Monday 17 January 2011, human rights defender Dr Obaid Mohammed Al-Mutairi (known as Obaid Alwasmi), aged 39, will be brought for the second time before the Lower Criminal Court in Kuwait on six charges, all related to a speech he delivered in a public gathering on 8 December 2010.

Further Information

Dr Obaid Alwasmi is a Professor of Law at the University of Kuwait and has published many articles and delivered many speeches on human rights issues in Kuwait including the independence of the Judiciary; corruption; freedom of assembly, and freedom of opinion, including in relation to the ongoing case of human rights defender and writer Mohammed Al-Jassem.

On 20 December 2010, Dr Obaid Alwasmi was officially charged in State Security Case No 7/2010. The charges relate to a speech delivered by Dr Obaid Alwasmi at a public seminar on 8 December 2010. Following the seminar the Security Special Force reportedly attacked those present at the gathering, dragged Dr Obaid Alwasmi from among the crowd, pulled him along the ground in a humiliating way, and beat him harshly.