A Kuwaiti court sentenced outspoken activist and critic Salman al-Khalidi to 15 years in prison and deportation from the country, local Arabic media reported on Monday.
The criminal court, presided over by a judge, used the sentence against al-Khalidi on state security charges, reports said.
Al-Khalidi, who recently posted critical remarks about Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal and the ruling family on social media, was convicted of "publicly insulting the Emir through drawings and images" and for "disrespecting the institution of the Emir, and committing a hostile act against a sister nation, which could cause the severing of political relations".
The court stated, "freedom of expression must have its limits, it should not turn an opinion into an insult, an expression into aggression, or criticism into an attack".
"Freedom of expression does not permit the denigration of state symbols, nor does it justify the disrespect of sovereign institutions, or abuse under the guise of free speech," it added.
According to reports, the court added that the reason behind his prison sentence was due to al-Khalidi taking part in an act that "involves insulting symbols of certain countries in a tangible or physical form, which can no longer be considered acceptable discourse and is instead a form of taking part in political danger".
In January 2025, outrage broke out in Iraq after al-Khalidi was extradited to Kuwait, with critics accusing Iraqi authorities of breaching international laws.
The move sparked debates over Iraq’s commitment to human rights, and its position as a country that served as a safe haven for political dissidents.
At the time, Kuwait’s minister of interior and the first deputy prime minister, Sheikh Fahd al-Yousef, personally went to the Kuwait-Iraq border to receive al-Khalidi.
Al-Khalidi has long been known for advocating for a number of causes, including the plight of Palestinians.
He garnered widespread international attention following the Saudi killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, after the writer was lured to the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul, and later dismembered.
Al-Khalidi lambasted Saudi authorities for the move on social media. He also weighed in on the blockade of Qatar, stating that Saudi authorities had barred him from entering the country due to his stance of solidarity with Qataris.
At the time, he was studying political science at Lusail University in Qatar.
The activist then moved to the UK in 2023, after stating that he was granted political asylum. During his time in the country, he continued to speak out against Kuwaiti officials.