Kuwait close to death penalty law for blasphemy

The draft now includes a new clause which will mean the death penalty will only be applied if the person stands by their actions when questioned by a judge.

This would give defendants the opportunity to repent and face a prison term or a fine instead.

The amendment,which would apply the death penalty only for Muslims,was backed by 40 members of parliament,while six opposed it 8211; slightly more than in the previous reading.

Around 85 percent of Kuwait8217;s inhabitants are thought to be Muslim. Expatriate Christians and Hindus are the next largest groups.

Blasphemy is illegal under Kuwait8217;s publications law and under the penal code as slander or libel. At present it carries a jail term,the length of which depends on the severity of the comments and their perceived effect on society,lawyers say.

Islamist MPs proposed toughening the law in March after authorities arrested a Kuwaiti man they said had defamed the Prophet,his companions and his wife on the Twitter messaging site.

The man,identified by his lawyer as Hamad al-Naqi,has told police his account was hacked. He is now in pre-trial detention.

Dozens of Sunni activists protested to condemn Naqi,who is from Kuwait8217;s Shi8217;ite Muslim minority.

Other countries which have used the death penalty in blasphemy cases include Kuwait8217;s neighbour Saudi Arabia and Pakistan,according to Amnesty International.