Kuwait lowers juvenile age to 16

In the latest measure to tackle terrorism and organised crime, Kuwait has announced that it will lower the juvenile age from 18 to 16, Gulf News reported.

“Starting next year, anyone aged 16 or more arrested for a crime will be tried by a regular court, and not the juvenile court, which means the death penalty for some crimes,” head of juvenile protection at the Ministry of Interior, Bader Al-Ghadhoori, announced.

Under the current juvenile law, criminal penalties are applied to those who are 18 years old and above, while juvenile penalties are applied to those under 18.

Having the juvenile age lowered means criminals over 16 will now be subject to a heavy criminal sentence or even the death sentence. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has recently been concerned over the way the internet has facilitated criminal activity in the country. Political dissent, terrorism and drug trafficking, sex tourism and organised crime are all of particular concern.