The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah [official website], issued a decree to dissolve the parliament [Kuwait News Agency report] on Sunday. The decision was made due to “mounting security challenges as well as volatile regional developments.” As of late tension has been rising between the government and parliament, as parliament members had sought to question government leaders regarding a decision to increase petrol prices and other alleged financial and administrative violations. Kuwait has been under increasing pressure [Aljazeera report] as global oil prices have dropped, forcing the country to cut back on numerous subsidies, causing civil unrest. In addition, Kuwait has faced threats of attack by ISIS.

Kuwait has been the subject of several protests and attacks the past several years. In July 2015 Kuwait prosecutors announced that 29 people would face trial [JURIST report] for their participation in the suicide bombing of the Shiite mosque in June 2015. In May 2015 Kuwait’s Supreme Court upheld the two-year prison [JURIST report] sentence against activist Musallam al-Barrack [Gulf News profile], for insulting Kuwait’s ruler. In March 2015 Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] reported that riot police in Kuwait disbanded protests, arresting 16 protesters [JURIST report] who may be charged with attacking law enforcement officers and illegal gathering. In January 2015 Nabil al-Fadhl, a member of the Kuwait parliament, was charged with insulting [JURIST report] the honor of Kuwaiti society and history after making a comment in support of the legalized sale of alcohol.