Australian Sentenced for Insulting Kuwaiti Emir

An Australian woman has been sentenced for two years for insulting Kuwait’s emir.

Nasrah Al-Shamery was arrested back in December at a Kuwaiti airport after officials accused her of screaming insults of the country’s ruler.

Bashing Emir Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah is not permitted to Kuwaitis or foreigners.

Al-Shamery’s family insist she is innocent, and are pleading for her release.

“The emir is a good and respectable man,” said Sulaiman Al-Shamery, Nasrah’s husband.

“I beseech him to pardon her. She has kids, she has back problems, psychological problems and heart problems.”

Nasrah’s attorney, Falah al-Hajraf, said a misunderstanding between family members and an airport official turned into a melee during which she was said to have screamed obscenities.

Two of Al-Shamery’s sons were also detained in the December incident but they were later released on bail; it is not clear yet if they will face trial.

Al-Shamery’s husband and the rest of the children were deported, while Nasrah remained in a Kuwaiti jail.