KUWAIT, May 21 (KUNA) -- The Ministry of Interior said Saturday that respect for the rights, dignity and safety of citizens and expatriates living in Kuwait was enshrined in the constitution and laws of the country.
The laws also ensure the stature of security men who are responsible for the protection of the national security, and the public and private property, the ministry said.
The statements came in joint press remarks by director general of the ministry's legal affairs dept. Brig. As'ad Al-Ruwaiyyeh and acting director of the public relations and moral guidance dept. Col. Adel Al-Hashash.
"The ministry is to launch a public awareness campaign to educate citizens and expatriates on the importance of the rule of law and the legal consequences of any infringement on the stature of policemen," Al-Ruwaiyyeh revealed.
"The campaign aims to promote legal culture among the public through the local mass media," he pointed out.
Warning against any attempt to hinder law-enforcers from discharging their duties, Brig. Al-Ruwaiyyeh said the penal code provides that anyone who offends a law-enforcer or civil servant by due to their official missions will imprisoned for up to three months and a fine.
Article 135 of the law provides that anyone who might resist or use violence against a law-enforcer is liable to one year in jail and a fine of up to KD 1,000 ((both or one of the two punishments).
The subsequent amendments to the law toughened the punishments to two-year prison term and KD 3,000 fine, Brig. Al-Ruwaiyyeh said, noting that a similar punishment is stipulated for anyone who might lodge false report against a policeman.
On his part, Col. Al-Hashash warned against the recent spread of the phenomenon of aggressions on policemen, attributing the phenomenon to "the accelerated social and behavioral changes." "The ministry pursues zero tolerance policy in enforcing the rule of law and preserving the stature of the security personnel; in so-doing the ministry is protecting the rights of citizens, expatriates and policemen on equal footing," he pointed out.
Col. Al-Hashash called on the public to join forces with the law-enforcement agencies in preserving the rule of law and the stability and security of the homeland. - Kuna