Kuwaiti Court Sentences 8 to Death for Aiding Iraqi Forces

Kuwait’s martial-law court Tuesday sentenced eight people to death, six of them in absentia, for collaborating with Iraqi occupation forces.

All eight were charged with aiding the enemy and joining the Iraqi popular army, a civilian militia.

Khalil Jumaa Aboudi of Iraq and Salim Hashoush Rashid, a stateless Arab, were the only two in court. The nationalities of the others were not known.

Both defendants present Tuesday said they joined the army because of Iraqi threats that their female relatives would be raped if they refused.

Salim smiled when Judge Jawad Abdullah pronounced the sentence, and Khalil was impassive.

There is no appeal under martial law, but the martial-law governor, Crown Prince Saad al Abdullah al Sabah, must approve all sentences in consultation with three judges from the Court of Appeals.

Tuesday’s sentences brought to 21 the total of death sentences issued since the collaboration trials began May 19. Such sentences are carried out by hanging.

The earlier sentences included three Jordanians, two Palestinians, two Lebanese, a Kuwaiti woman, two stateless Arabs and three whose nationality was not known.