KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait's parliament passed a law on Tuesday giving police wide powers to search and seize illegal weapons to tackle a wave of al Qaeda-linked violence. "Parliament unanimously passed this law on weapons collection, which is valid for two years," lawmaker Abdullah al-Roumi told Reuters. After militant violence in early January, a government draft was rushed through procedures that often take months.
Kuwait introduced similar legislation in 1992 to deal with a proliferation of arms since the 1990-1 Iraqi occupation. But lawmakers rejected an extension of that law in 1994, saying possession of weapons was a right. The new law makes it easier for police to obtain a warrant to search a private house for illegal weapons. Now police can get a warrant only after carrying out extensive investigations. The law will also allow women inspectors to search women's quarters in private homes, which were off limits because of Islamic rules.
The new law states the prosecutor or a deputy "can allow police in writing to search persons, houses and public or private places and transport facilities in a specified area in a specified period of time," for illegal weapons or ammunitions. |