US embassy cable - 02KUWAIT5438

S E C R E T KUWAIT 005438 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2012 
TAGS: PREL, KU 
SUBJECT: RADICAL ISLAMIST ACQUITTED OF DAMAGING KUWAITI 
DEFENSE 
 
Classified By: CDA Frank C. Urbancic for reason 1.5 (d) 
 
1. (U) Influential Kuwaiti Muslim fundamentalist Jaber 
al-Jalahma was acquitted on December 17 of charges of 
&damaging military preparations for the defense of the 
country8 by publicly praising the attackers who shot and 
killed a U.S. Marine on October 8 as heroes and martyrs. 
 
2.  (U) In the short, two-day trial, the court found that the 
defendant,s expression of his personal views had not harmed 
the interests of the State of Kuwait and that there was a 
lack of material facts surrounding the accusations.  &What 
the suspect had said about the Failaka shooting incident is 
personal opinion in which he expressed his point of view on 
the two assailants,8 it added. 
 
3.  (U) After the trial, al-Jalahma,s lawyers said they will 
file suit against the Ministry of Interior and the State 
Security Department for the psychological, social and 
material stress they claim their client was subjected to. 
 
4.  (S) Comment:   Jalahma's acquittal is a disappointment. 
He is one of Kuwait's most notable and virulent 
anti-Americans, and this decision will certainly be 
interpreted as a complete "victory" for him and his political 
Islamist allies.  MoI Assistant Undersecretary Ahmad 
al-Rujaib, one of the key people in the operations division, 
told charge December 18 that the decision was a gift to the 
Islamists.  Rujaib understood clearly that Jalahma's real 
goal is to transform Kuwaiti society, and that his attacks 
against the United States are only the first step in clearing 
the way for that negative transformation.  This, particularly 
if it is coupled with a similar ruling on accused Islamist 
Mohammed al-Mulaifi later this month, has already sent a 
demoralizing shiver through the law enforcment community. 
End Comment. 
URBANCIC