The bill, which “stipulates that Muslims who are convicted of cursing God, the Qur’an, any of the prophets or the wives of Prophet Mohammad will be punished by death or life in jail,” was just rejected by the emir. But a 2/3 vote in its favor from parliament — where it originated — will make it law.
“Kuwait emir rejects apostasy death-penalty bill,” from Al-Shorfa, June 7:
Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has refused to sign a bill passed by parliament stipulating the death penalty for major religious offences, AFP reported Thursday (June 7th).
The government returned the bill to parliament on Wednesday following the emir’s rejection. Al-Sabah has the power to reject bills passed by the elected assembly, but parliament can override the decision by resubmitting the bill with a two-thirds majority among its 49 members and 16 cabinet ministers.
The bill, passed by parliament last month, stipulates that Muslims who are convicted of cursing God, the Qur’an, any of the prophets or the wives of Prophet Mohammad will be punished by death or life in jail.