The former mayor of Kouvait has been sentenced to four years in prison for “attempting to overthrow the government” by organizing protests against the government. According to Middle East Eye, Mesayed al-Kourafan, the former deputy leader of the National Assembly, was convicted on May 22 for inciting the royal family to intervene in the 2024 National Assembly elections. His aim was to control the verdicts of the ruling family members. Al-Kourafan made this statement during a pre-election symposium on March 30 where he emphasized that Kouvait should not be treated as an experimental field for ruling family members.

Al-Kourafan’s arrest occurred on April 23, and his initial detention was limited to 21 days by judicial authorities. Throughout his detention period, he was denied communication with his supporters or access to his lawyer. On April 15, he expressed his concerns on his microblog, highlighting the danger the current state of affairs poses to the country. He also called for a change in the political system to ensure its effectiveness and allow public participation in the decision-making process.