KUWAIT CITY – A defense lawyer in Kuwait says a former parliament member was granted bail and will remain free while fighting a five-year sentence for a speech considered insulting to the Gulf nation's emir.
Monday's court decision defuses a brewing political crisis after Musallam al-Barrack refused to surrender to authorities last week. His supporters clashed with security forces and threatened to escalate protests.
Defense lawyer Abdullah al-Ahmad say al-Barrack was granted bail while he appeals the conviction and the sentence. Bail was set at 5,000 dinars, about $17,500.
Al-Barrack, a leading opposition figure, was charged for a speech last year in which he derided Kuwait's ruler for making changes to the country's voting law.
Kuwaiti officials have sharply increased crackdown on dissent, including arrests for Twitter posts deemed offensive to the emir.
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