Over 200 Kuwaiti citizens to undergo DNA tests

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KUWAIT CITY, Feb 15: The General Department for Citizenship & Travel Documents had ordered more than 200 citizens to undergo the DNA tests in coordination with the General Department of Criminal Evidence during the past 6 months including their children who are two years and above, reports Al-Qabas daily. The daily added, these children have not been added to their citizenship file.

The daily said this was done upon instructions from the Assistant Undersecretary for Citizenship and Passports Affairs, Major-General Sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah. The exercise was carried out under the supervision and implementation of director of the Department of Citizenship Mohammed Bu-Shaiba. Meanwhile, a knowledgeable source said more than 1,500 non-Kuwaiti women married to Kuwaiti men have been naturalized during the last quarter of 2013 until the beginning of 2016.

Mixed reaction to law: The Interior Ministry announced the launching of the Cybercrimes Law a few days ago, through which the citizens will be protected from electronic crimes, reports Al-Anba daily. Article 11 of the law states that anybody who creates a website for a terrorist group or a terrorist, or publish information about any of them to facilitate their communication or spread their extremist thoughts under any title shall be punished – 10 years imprisonment and fine ranging from KD20,000 to KD50,000. In this context, the daily asked some politicians and lawyers to share their views on the law.

Their opinions varied as some support the law while others have voiced objection to it. Political Science Professor at Kuwait University Dr Abdullah Al-Ghanem pointed out some articles are strict and definite, especially those related to offending Islamic figures. He said other articles are flexible, citing those on media campaigns against the country.

He asserted these campaigns are usually launched by official authorities, not individuals. He added the law does not differentiate between criticizing and offending, leaving it to the judge for evaluation. On the other hand, political activist Dr Badr Al-Khodary said the social media in Kuwait witnessed instability when the law was enacted on Jan 12. He pointed out that 80 percent of accounts and groups on various social networking sites have been inactive since the enactment of the law.

He asserted the law is very effective in fighting terrorism, drugs and money laundering but he was quick to add though that the law interferes with freedom of opinion, stressing this contravenes Article 36 of the Const

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