Citizen Journos Among Those Pardoned by Kuwaiti Emir

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Right result, wrong reason, is the reaction of human rights activists and free speech proponents to Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah's pardoning of numerous prisoners, including citizen journalists Badr al-Rashidi and Ourance Rashidi, according to watchdog group Reporters Without Borders ("RWB").

The mass release of inmates last week, including al-Rashidi and Rashidi, who had been incarcerated since June 14, 2012 and October 27, 2011, respectively, was occasioned by the end of Ramadan, during which gestures of mercy are commonplace.  The online journalists were among those jailed for criticizing the Emir, according to RWB.

Insulting the Emir, under Kuwait's criminal code, remains punishable by a maximum five years' imprisonment.