An angry mob stormed a privately-owned television station in Kuwait on Sunday. The group, said to number at least 150, smashed windows and overturned furniture at Scope TV. About 10 people were reportedly injured.

The Kuwait Times says the station accused the attackers of being under the guidance of "a well known diplomat" before if went off air. 

The mob were apparently enraged by a talk show, 'Zain wa Shain' ('Good and Bad'), broadcast on Saturday, which they believed to have insulted a member of the royal family.

Last week, writer-director Fajer al-Saeed was questioned by Kuwait's public prosecutor following a complaint from the information ministry. Her lawyer, quoted by AFP, says she was accused of attempting to overthrow the government, change the country's economic and social systems and demolish the foundations of society using illegal means.

The accusations arise out of a satirical show, 'Sawtak Wasal' ('Your Voice Has Been Heard'), which was broadcast by Scope in August, according to her lawyer. One episode joked about "privatising and exporting Kuwaiti democracy".

Today, the prosecutor is due to question her brother, Talal, who is the station's director and a former member of parliament.

Several MPs have criticised the government's action. AFP quotes Jassem al-Khorafi, the parliamentary speaker, as saying: "Referring the Scope channel to the public prosecution on state security charges over a comedy show is a catastrophe and a silly act by the information ministry."

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 18 October 2010.