Kuwaiti power play: court clears Sheikh Ahmad of insulting judiciary

Sheikh Ahmad

July 28 – Kuwait’s supreme court has upheld the acquittal of Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah – one of the most powerful men in world sport and a prominent Asian representative at FIFA’s top table – on charges of insulting the judiciary.

The ruling, which cannot be appealed, cleared Sheikh Ahmad, a member of the ruling FIFA Council, of inciting public unrest.

The Gulf state’s senior ruling family member was sentenced in December to six months in jail by a lower court for casting doubt on the integrity of the judiciary by disobeying an order not to discuss a video involving a purported plot to overthrow the government.

An appeals court overturned the conviction in January while Sheikh Ahmad, a nephew of Kuwaiti ruler Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, has always denied the charges and considered the lower court verdict a personal attack against him.

The case erupted after FIFA and the IOC suspended Kuwait from all sporting activities in October over alleged government interference in sport in the oil-rich state. The FIFA suspension still means Kuwait cannot take part in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711643901labto1711643901ofdlr1711643901owedi1711643901sni@w1711643901ahsra1711643901w.wer1711643901dna1711643901


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