An Arab nationalist and campaigner of political freedom and human rights One of Kuwait's most respected politician, al-Sagar was an Arab nationalist who devoted his life to advancing political freedom and human rights that sometime clashed with the ruling al-Sabah dynasty. He focussed on Kuwait's emergence as an internationally important trading and financial centre after the country attained independence from Britain in 1961. Al-Sagar became deputy in the national Assembly after elections in 1975, 1981 and 1992 and supported women's rights and dared stand alone in opposing law banning Kuwaiti citizenship to non-Muslims. To the end Jasim supported the Palestinian battle for survival, opposing the normalisation of relations with Israel and demanding the boycotting of Israeli goods. Jasim al-Sagar was born into an old established Kuwaiti family that dominated the date trade as owners of large plantations on the Shatt al-Arab.