In a significant move to modernize its legal framework, the Kuwaiti Cabinet has introduced two groundbreaking legislative changes. These reforms are designed to align the country’s laws with international human rights standards and address current economic realities. On Sunday, the Cabinet issued Decree-Law No. 8 of 2025, amending Article 251 of the Civil Code to revise the compensation for blood money, known as diya. The value of blood money has been doubled from 10,000 Kuwaiti dinars (Dh119,041) to 20,000 dinars. This amount had remained unchanged for over four decades, since the introduction of Decree-Law No. 67 of 1980.

Economic Shifts Drive Revision of Blood Money

The government’s decision to revise the blood money amount reflects changes in economic conditions, including inflation and the decline in purchasing power. The Cabinet’s memorandum stated that the previous amount no longer accurately reflected contemporary financial realities and was inadequate in compensating victims’ families or deterring acts of violence. The revised amount aligns with the country’s economic situation and aims to provide more effective compensation while fulfilling its original purpose.

In line with Islamic legal tradition, the government emphasized that adjustments to blood money are permissible based on changing economic circumstances. Historical precedents, such as increases in diya during the era of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, when the price of camels — the traditional basis for calculating diya — rose, were also referenced in the decree.

The revised law takes immediate effect upon publication in the Official Gazette, and it removes the provision that previously allowed changes to the diya amount by decree, thus creating a more stable and permanent legal benchmark.

Abolition of Gender-Discriminatory Law

In addition to the blood money amendment, Kuwait has made significant strides toward gender equality by abolishing a provision in the Penal Code that allowed lenient sentences for men who killed female relatives caught in the act of adultery. Decree-Law No. 9 of 2025, published in the official gazette Kuwait Alyoum, cancels Article 153 of the Penal Code, which had long been criticized for perpetuating gender-based discrimination.

Enacted under Law No. 16 of 1960, the provision had previously allowed men to invoke a legal excuse for committing such crimes, thereby reducing their punishment. This option was not available to women under any circumstances. The provision had faced considerable opposition from human rights advocates, who argued that it enshrined discrimination and normalized violence against women.

The explanatory note accompanying the decree emphasized that this provision contradicted both the Kuwaiti Constitution and the country’s obligations under international treaties, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The government acknowledged that mitigating punishment for such crimes only contributed to their perpetuation and stated that Article 29 of the Constitution guarantees equal dignity and rights for all individuals, regardless of gender.

A Step Toward Greater Gender Equality

The abolition of this provision is a significant step towards gender equality in Kuwait, aligning the country with global standards for justice and human rights. The decree now mandates full criminal accountability for anyone committing such crimes, without considering gender or provocation.

Human rights organizations have praised the move, calling it an essential step in ensuring that women are fully protected under the law and that all individuals are held accountable for their actions without any gender-based bias.

These reforms reflect Kuwait’s commitment to creating a more modern and just legal system, one that upholds the principles of equality, fairness, and respect for human dignity.

 

 

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