KUWAIT CITY: A member of Kuwait’s Parliament is facing charges of insulting the nation after saying he supports legalizing the sale of alcohol in the country.

Nabil Al-Fadhl said the controversy was sparked after he first proposed repealing a law that bans dancing at public music concerts. He was asked in Parliament by a hardliner MP if that means he would also support legalizing the sale of alcohol during concerts. He replied by saying: “Why not?”

Al-Fadhl says a lawyer has filed charges against him over the remark.

Al-Fadhl, who is an independent lawmaker, says that despite his personal views, he isn’t proposing a bill to legalize the sale of alcohol, which has been illegal in Kuwait since 1964.