2016-04-14 Kuwait University | Scholars at Risk 1 of 3 https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/report/2016-04-14-kuwait-university/ protection advocacy learning Protecting scholars and the freedom to think, question, and share ideas SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more. DATE OF INCIDENT: April 14, 2016 INSTITUTION(S): Kuwait University ATTACK TYPES: Prosecution | Other REGION & COUNTRY: Western Asia | Kuwait NEW OR ONGOING: New Incident On April 14, 2016, Sheikha al-Jassem, a scholar of philosophy at Kuwait University and a human rights activist, was charged with blasphemy as a result of a complaint �led against her following an interview she gave on March 8, 2016. In the interview, Professor al-Jassem reportedly criticized religious extremism, and asserted that Kuwait should be governed by its constitution, not Quranic law. Following the interview, a Kuwaiti lawyer �led a complaint with the public 1/27/2025, 11:46 AM