KUWAIT CITY (AP) — A Kuwaiti defense lawyer says a court in the Gulf nation has convicted and sentenced 13 people to two years in prison each for reading aloud a speech by a leading opposition figure challenging the country’s ruler.

Attorney Mohammad al-Humaidi says his clients were convicted Wednesday for reciting the speech by former parliament member Musallam al-Barrack at rallies following his arrest in 2012.

In October 2012, al-Barrak gave the speech during a large anti-government protest. He was convicted of insulting the ruler over that address, but he was allowed to remain free on bail and continues to fight legal charges against him.

Al-Humaidi said his clients will appeal the ruling.

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