Kuwait gets tough on web offenders

27 July 2008 05:59pm

Kuwait's prosecutor general says internet offenders will no longer be able to escape punishment in the small oil-rich state.

Hamed al-Othman says in an interview with Al-Qabas daily published on Sunday he has prepared a Bill that criminalises promoting vice, incitement against the country's leadership, divulging state secrets, or insulting Islam on the web.

If convicted, offenders would be sentenced to up to one year in jail and/or a fine, but face seven years in prison if their victims are minors.

Al-Othman's office confirmed that he made the comments to Al-Qabas.

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