Kuwait TV Fined $1.8 Million for 'Insulting' Ruling Family

A Kuwaiti court Thursday fined a local television station 500,000 dinars ($1.8 million) for airing a program deemed offensive to the Gulf state's ruling family, according to the court ruling.

The program, aired in October 2010 by SCOPE TV director and former lawmaker, Talal al-Saeed, charged that ancestors of the Al-Malek branch of the Al-Sabah ruling family attempted to overthrow the government 50 years ago.

Following the program, the TV station was attacked and ransacked allegedly by members of the ruling family.

Another Kuwaiti court in September issued a three-month suspended jail term against three members of the ruling family for attacking the TV station.