Kuwaiti woman quizzed over TV show
2010-10-17 22:13
Kuwait City - Kuwaiti writer-director Fajer al-Saeed has been questioned over accusations that she tried to overthrow the Gulf state's government through a television comedy programme, her lawyer said on Sunday.
"She was questioned by the public prosecutor on Thursday over a complaint by the information ministry, and was released without bail," Faisal al-Enezi told AFP.
The prosecutor accused Saeed of attempting to overthrow the government, change the country's economic and social systems and demolish the foundations of society using illegal means, Enezi said.
"My client categorically denied the accusations and said they were politically motivated," he said.
The accusations were based on a comedy show titled Sawtak Wasal or Your Voice Has Been Heard, broadcast in August by a local satellite channel, SCOPE, which is also owned by Saeed, he said.
Family business
Saeed both writes and directs the programme.
One episode spoke about "privatising and exporting Kuwaiti democracy" in a comic way to highlight continued wranglings that have rocked politics in the oil-rich emirate for years, Enezi said.
On Monday the public prosecution is scheduled to interrogate the satellite station's director Talal al-Saeed, a former MP and Fajer's brother, the lawyer added.
MPs have lashed out at the government over the accusations.
"Referring the SCOPE channel to the public prosecution on state security charges over a comedy show is a catastrophe and a silly act by the information ministry," parliament speaker Jassem al-Khorafi told reporters.
Liberal MP Aseel al-Awadhi said the ministry was trying to stifle freedom of speech, and former liberal MP Mohammad al-Abduljader called on the information minister to resign.
- SAPA