KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: Yasser Al-Habib refuted speculations that he escaped to London after being convicted of offending the wives and companions of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), saying “I did not escape from Kuwait. I was released from prison after being granted Amiri amnesty which was signed by the former minister of Justice Ahmed Baqer,” reports Al-Rai daily.
Speaking to the daily, Al-Habib said the demand to revoke his citizenship is naïve and those making the demand want to distract the country from other important issues. “If the revoking of my citizenship will calm the situation, ease nerves and prevent confusion in Kuwait, I have no problems,” he said, adding “it is important that the issue not be allowed to escalate and destroy the country. Moreover, I have nothing to lose; all my losses are worldly losses.”

Stressing that he did not escape from Kuwait as being speculated by his detractors who are now demanding his extradition, Al-Habib said “I was granted Amiri amnesty and it was the former minister of Justice who signed the amnesty before referring it to HH the Amir. “Is it possible that Baqer did not read my name before signing the document?” he asked.
Al-Habib said he submitted a complaint to British authorities against 11 Kuwaitis, including MPs, accusing them of exposing him to murder attempts. “I have been told that Interpol has refused to hand me over to Kuwait because I am involved in an opinion case, not a criminal case, and this is not within the jurisdiction of Interpol,” he added.
Al-Habib mentioned that after leaving Kuwait, he went to Iraq and then to Iran from where he boarded a plane to London where he is currently residing.
Al-Habib called the Kuwaiti government ‘coward’ for succumbing to loud voices and shouting and argued that citizenship has nothing to do with this topic. “There is no article in the citizenship law which states that citizenship can be revoked for offending the wives of the Prophet (PBUH),” he stated.