Latest news with #Al-Sumait
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
‘Laws are not sacred'... judiciary shuffling axed
KUWAIT CITY, July 24: Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait affirmed that, 'Laws are not the Holy Quran. They are not sacred texts, but rather are meant to serve the public good, support employment, and organize the relationship between the people and the state', reports Al-Seyassah daily. In a press statement, Minister Al-Sumait said, 'We have amended the laws and are closely monitoring their impact and effectiveness among the public', stressing that any amendments must be approached with discretion. He clarified that the state is entering a new era in which leadership is closely linked to the quality of legislation, adding that as long as laws are implemented properly, the process of amendment will continue. Confirming what the daily published recently, Minister Al-Sumait issued a decision to cancel all actions taken by the selection committee responsible for the appointment of junior legal researchers eligible for the position of public prosecutor, as well as the supporting team. All related procedures and results were deemed null and void. He decided that the written exams and personal interviews for applicants would be reorganized according to a new mechanism, to be announced at a later date. The minister revealed that serious violations had marred the work of the committee and its team, reaching such an extent that no subsequent correction or review could remedy the damage. Speaking to KUNA, Minister Al-Sumait explained that the decision to cancel the committee and its supporting team, which was formed under Ministerial Resolutions No. 1602/2024 and 1603/2024, stems from the Ministry of Justice's commitment to upholding the principles of equal opportunity, fairness, and transparency in judicial appointments, as well as maintaining public trust in the integrity of the judiciary. The ministry will reorganize the written tests and personal interviews for applicants based on a new mechanism, which will be announced at a later date. Al-Sumait stressed that the position of junior legal researcher, which qualifies its holder for appointment as a public prosecutor, is a pivotal role, as it represents the first building block of the judicial system and plays a great role in shaping the judiciary body. He emphasized that judicial positions are both a responsibility and a trust that require the highest levels of competence, integrity, and impartiality. Al-Sumait revealed that the Ministry of Justice had received a number of complaints and grievances regarding the recent admissions process, raising serious concerns about its fairness and the validity of its outcomes. Upon reviewing the documents and evidence, it was confirmed that violations had occurred that compromised the integrity of the entire admissions process and rendered the results unrepresentative of the applicants' true performance.
Arab Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait scraps judicial recruitment results to ensure fairness and transparency
KUWAIT CITY, July 23: Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait has issued a decision to annul the work and outcomes of the selection committee responsible for recruiting junior legal researchers qualifying for the position of public prosecutor. The decision also applies to the assistant team formed under Ministerial Resolutions No. 1602 and 1603 of 2024, rendering all related procedures and results null and void. In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Wednesday, Minister Al-Sumait affirmed that the move reflects the Ministry's commitment to upholding the principles of equal opportunity, justice, and transparency in judicial appointments. He emphasized the need to maintain public trust in the integrity and impartiality of Kuwait's judiciary. The Minister announced that written exams and personal interviews for applicants will be restructured and conducted again in accordance with a revised mechanism, details of which will be announced at a later date. This step, he said, is intended to ensure procedural integrity and enhance public confidence in the judicial selection process. Al-Sumait stressed the critical nature of the junior legal researcher position, describing it as the foundation for building the judicial institution. 'The judicial role is a mandate and a trust,' he said, 'one that demands the highest standards of competence and integrity.' The Ministry of Justice, according to Al-Sumait, had received several complaints and grievances concerning the previous admission process, raising concerns about its fairness and accuracy. Upon reviewing the relevant documents, the Ministry uncovered significant violations that compromised the credibility of the selection committee's work. 'These irregularities seriously undermined the validity of the entire recruitment process,' the Minister stated, 'to the extent that any subsequent corrections or reviews would be insufficient to restore confidence in the results.' The Ministry will now work toward implementing a new, transparent admission mechanism that reflects the true merit of candidates and reinforces the public's confidence in the judiciary's impartiality and fairness.
Arab Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait tightens grip on foreign property access
KUWAIT CITY, July 16: In a new regulatory move aimed at organizing the real estate market and improving the investment environment, Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait announced that a draft decree has been submitted to the Fatwa and Legislation Department regarding controls on real estate ownership by foreigners through companies listed on the Boursa Kuwait and real estate funds. Al-Sumait explained that the draft decree was prepared under the provisions of Decree-Law No. 7/2025, which regulates real estate ownership, and is now pending approval by the Council of Ministers. The objective is to strike a delicate balance between attracting organized real estate investment and protecting the demographic structure as well as preventing the exploitation of residential properties for purely commercial or investment purposes. The decree takes into account the legal frameworks specific to citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and preserves the privileges granted to them regarding real estate ownership in Kuwait. The decree includes the following articles: Article 1: Companies listed on the stock exchange with non-Kuwaiti shareholders, as well as licensed real estate funds with non-Kuwaiti unit holders, may own real estate if their objectives include real estate dealings. The provisions of this paragraph do not affect the right of units supervised by the Central Bank of Kuwait or others to own real estate, per the law of the Central Bank of Kuwait or any other applicable legislation. Article 2: Persons licensed by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to practice the activity of investment portfolio managers may open and manage investment portfolios for non-Kuwaiti clients. These portfolios may include securities issued by companies listed on the stock exchange whose objectives include real estate dealings or units of real estate funds. Article 3: Listed companies, real estate funds, and investment portfolios licensed by the relevant regulatory authorities in Kuwait are prohibited from engaging in any transactions involving real estate, plots, or land designated for private residential purposes, whether by sale, purchase, mortgage, transfer of rights, authorization to dispose of the property to a third party, or acceptance of such authorization on behalf of a third party, except for the exceptions granted to units supervised by the Central Bank of Kuwait or any other exceptions specified by law. Article 4: Ownership of any real estate shares in kind may not be transferred to non- Kuwaitis in the event of the liquidation of a listed company or real estate fund, without prejudice to their right to receive an amount equivalent to their share of the liquidation proceeds, unless they have legal grounds permitting such ownership following the applicable laws. Article 5: The provisions of this decree shall not affect the treatment of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens as Kuwaitis, per the relevant regulations. Nor shall they affect any provisions regulating real estate ownership contained in other laws. Such cases shall remain subject to the provisions of the laws, regulations, and decisions governing them. Article 6: Each minister, within their respective jurisdiction, shall implement this decree, which shall take effect from the date of its publication in the official gazette 'Kuwait Al-Youm'.
Arab Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait drafts 2 laws on humanitarian protection
KUWAIT CITY, July 15: Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait announced Tuesday the completion of two draft laws aimed at reinforcing Kuwait's adherence to international humanitarian law (IHL). The drafts have been submitted to the Fatwa and Legislation Department for review before their presentation to the Council of Ministers. Al-Sumait, who also chairs the Permanent National Committee for International Humanitarian Law, stated that the first draft concerns the protection of the Red Crescent emblem and other humanitarian symbols. It seeks to ensure legal safeguards for these emblems, preventing misuse during armed conflicts and natural disasters in line with the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols. The second draft addresses international crimes, empowering the Kuwaiti judiciary to prosecute serious violations under the principle of complementarity as outlined in Article 17 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move would allow national courts to handle cases typically under the jurisdiction of international tribunals, thereby strengthening Kuwait's legal capacity in this area. Al-Sumait emphasized that both drafts were prepared by a national team of legal experts in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as part of an ongoing strategic partnership with its regional office. He noted that these legislative efforts align with the priorities of the national committee, which aims to harmonize domestic laws with international humanitarian standards. The minister extended his appreciation to all local and international experts involved in the drafting process, reaffirming Kuwait's commitment to upholding and promoting international humanitarian principles within its legal and institutional frameworks.
Arab Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait finalizes 2 draft laws to enhance international humanitarian law compliance
KUWAIT CITY, July 15: Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait announced Tuesday the completion of two draft laws aimed at reinforcing Kuwait's adherence to international humanitarian law (IHL). The drafts have been submitted to the Fatwa and Legislation Department for review before their presentation to the Council of Ministers. Al-Sumait, who also chairs the Permanent National Committee for International Humanitarian Law, stated that the first draft concerns the protection of the Red Crescent emblem and other humanitarian symbols. It seeks to ensure legal safeguards for these emblems, preventing misuse during armed conflicts and natural disasters in line with the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols. The second draft addresses international crimes, empowering the Kuwaiti judiciary to prosecute serious violations under the principle of complementarity as outlined in Article 17 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move would allow national courts to handle cases typically under the jurisdiction of international tribunals, thereby strengthening Kuwait's legal capacity in this area. Al-Sumait emphasized that both drafts were prepared by a national team of legal experts in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as part of an ongoing strategic partnership with its regional office. He noted that these legislative efforts align with the priorities of the national committee, which aims to harmonize domestic laws with international humanitarian standards. The minister extended his appreciation to all local and international experts involved in the drafting process, reaffirming Kuwait's commitment to upholding and promoting international humanitarian principles within its legal and institutional frameworks.
