Kuwaiti journalist complains of torture

A correspondent for an Arabic television network has complained to a parliamentary panel that he was beaten by security officers during a brief detention last month. 

Aidan's complaint was delivered to the Kuwaiti parliament

In a statement to the house’s human-rights committee, Adil Aidan of Al-Arabiya satellite channel on Sunday provided the names of two officers who he said had beaten him all over his body with a stick and called him names. 

Aidan, a Kuwaiti, said the first interrogator asked him for the names of his sources. 

“When I declined to disclose the names out of respect for my profession and morals, he referred me to other persons who supervised torturing me,” he said. 

Kuwaiti Interior Ministry officials could not be reached for comment. 

Released on bail

The correspondent was detained for four days last month on charges of spreading false news that harmed national interests.

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Jailed insurgent Amir al-Inzi died
allegedly of torture on Tuesday

He had reported a shootout between insurgents and police. 

Aidan was released on bail on 8 January. It is not clear if he will face trial. 

He said he did not expect such mistreatment in a democratic country such as Kuwait, and added that he was still being harassed by security officers who did not want him to speak out. 

Lawyers’ protest

Aidan’s complaint comes as some lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the death last week of an imprisoned insurgent, suggesting torture was the cause. 

The Interior Ministry said Amir Khilaif al-Inzi, 29, died on Tuesday of a heart attack.

The former mosque preacher and his group allegedly plotted to attack Americans and Kuwaiti state security. About 40 suspects are being investigated in connection to the plans.

Meanwhile, a number of Kuwaiti lawyers have refused to defend a state security case in protest against imprisonment of lawyer Usama al-Munawwir, Aljazeera learned on Monday. 

The lawyers have called for the release of al-Munawwir, who is defending 15 of the case’s suspects.  

The court has postponed its session until 13 March. 

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies