A Kuwaiti court has issued death sentences against 3 defendants in a case of espionage with Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah, and planning to assassinate officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yusuf.

The State Security and Terrorism Court ruled on Monday to imprison 8 other defendants for 5 years.

What happened?

According to the Kuwaiti newspaper "Al-Qabas", the charges brought by the Public Prosecution against the defendants included espionage, attempting to commit hostile acts against Kuwait, joining a banned group, and harming the national interests of the country.

The case involved, according to the newspaper, planning to target symbols and leaders in the state, in addition to attempting to use explosives to execute the plan and spread panic.

The prosecution charged the eleventh defendant with attempting to bring explosives to enable the other defendants to carry out the operation, according to what the newspaper reported from the investigations.

"Al-Qabas" reported that the reasons for the ruling indicated that the defendants attempted to undermine Kuwait's security and provoke unrest and shake confidence in the authorities' ability to protect lives and property.

The case combines charges of links to foreign entities and preparations for acts of violence within the country, which the court addressed in its ruling against the eleven defendants.

Revealing the Identity of One of the Convicted

For its part, the "France Presse" agency reported, citing two judicial sources, that the Secretary-General of the National Islamic Alliance, Hussein Abdullah Al-Mutlaq, is among those sentenced to death.

The sources added that one of the other convicted individuals had previously been convicted in a terrorism case in 2016, then received a royal pardon, before being arrested again last April.

The issued sentences remain subject to the appeals process, distinguishing them from final judgments that are enforceable.