Kuwait judge orders 2 newspapers to stop printing

6/10/2014

KUWAIT CITY — A Kuwaiti court has ordered two newspapers to stop printing for a second time in less than two months over articles about a secret probe into allegations of a coup plot to overthrow the Gulf monarchy’s government.

The announcement comes as former opposition lawmaker Musallam al-Barrack planned an anti-government rally late today. An opposition group led by al-Barrack has promised to launch a series of street protests to press for reform in the Gulf state.

Al Watan reported online Monday that a judge ordered its print edition and that of Alam Al Yawm newspaper to stop publishing for five days because they had violated a prosecutor-ordered media blackout over the investigation. In April, the two newspapers received a two-week suspension from publishing from a court for the same reason.

The Kuwaiti prosecutor’s office has ordered that a probe into the videotape be held in secret and called for a media blackout of the investigation. The tape purportedly contains allegations of a plot to topple the ruling system led by the emir, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah.

Public Prosecutor Dherar al-Asousi has said the media blackout is necessary to preserve the public interest.

Kuwait prides itself on having the Gulf’s most free-wheeling political system and a vibrant press, but denouncing the Western-backed emir is illegal.