What's happened
Kuwait has officially abolished Article 153 of its Penal Code, which allowed lenient sentences for honour killings. The reform, announced on March 17, 2025, also raises the minimum marriage age to 18, marking significant progress in women's rights and legal equality in the country.
What's behind the headline?
Legal Implications
- The abolition of Article 153 means that honour killings will now be prosecuted as murder, ensuring equal treatment under the law.
- Justice Minister Nasser Al-Sumait emphasized that the previous leniency was discriminatory and had no basis in Islamic law.
Social Impact
- Raising the minimum marriage age to 18 aligns Kuwait with international obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- This reform is expected to reduce the prevalence of child marriages, which disproportionately affect foreign nationals in Kuwait.
Future Outlook
- The changes reflect a broader trend towards gender equality in the region, potentially influencing neighboring countries to reconsider similar laws.
- Continued advocacy and monitoring will be essential to ensure these reforms are effectively implemented and upheld.
What the papers say
According to Gulf News, Justice Minister Nasser Al-Sumait stated that the repeal of Article 153 is crucial for advancing justice and gender equality, asserting that it aligns with Kuwait's constitutional guarantees of equality. The New Arab highlighted the role of the 'Abolish 153' campaign in raising awareness about honour killings, noting that the group has been instrumental in pushing for legal reforms since its inception in 2015. Both sources agree on the significance of these changes, but The New Arab emphasizes the international human rights context, while Gulf News focuses on the legal implications within Kuwait's justice system.
How we got here
The repeal of Article 153 follows years of advocacy against honour killings in Kuwait. Activist campaigns, particularly the 'Abolish 153' initiative, have highlighted the need for legal reforms to protect women's rights and align with international human rights standards.
Go deeper
- What prompted the change in Kuwait's laws?
- How will these reforms affect women's rights in Kuwait?
- What are the next steps for activists in Kuwait?
More on these topics
-
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in Western Asia. Situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, it borders Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south.