Kuwait Proposes Specialized Courts to Fast-Track Terrorism and Security Cases

Kuwait’s Ministry of Justice has unveiled a draft decree-law to set up specialized criminal courts to handle cases involving internal and external state security, as well as terrorism offenses.

Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Yousef Al-Sumait said the initiative is designed to speed up highly sensitive trials while preserving judicial safeguards and ensuring social stability.

Under the proposed framework, cases will proceed in just two stages: an initial hearing before a specialized criminal court at the Court of First Instance, followed by an appeal before a specialized Court of Appeal. Decisions at the appeal stage will be final and cannot be challenged further.

The draft law specifies that only Kuwaiti judges will preside over these cases and gives the specialized courts exclusive authority to review and renew pretrial detention orders.

Existing cases relevant to state security or terrorism will be transferred to the new specialized courts to ensure their completion under the revised system.

Officials say the move marks a major step toward creating a more efficient judicial framework to address crimes that threaten national security and public safety.

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