Kuwaiti authorities have detained U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has not been seen for six weeks, according to a media watchdog, as Gulf states intensify a crackdown on war-related filming and online posts.
Shihab-Eldin, 41, had been visiting relatives in Kuwait and has not appeared publicly or posted online since 2 March, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Monday.
The organisation said he faces charges including spreading false information, harming national security and misusing a mobile phone.
Kuwait introduced a law on 15 March that includes penalties of up to 10 years in prison for disseminating false rumours related to military bodies with the intent of undermining public confidence.
Government officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent by email and telephone.
Across the Gulf region, authorities have reported hundreds of arrests linked to filming sensitive sites affected by the Middle East conflict or sharing related material online.
Iran launched retaliatory strikes on 28 February following U.S.-Israeli attacks, targeting U.S. military and energy facilities in neighbouring Gulf states.
Prior to his detention, Shihab-Eldin had shared publicly available videos and images connected to the conflict. His most recent posts on Substack include footage of a U.S. fighter jet crash near a U.S. air base in Kuwait.
He describes himself as an independent journalist who has worked with international outlets including the New York Times, HBO, Vice, PBS, BBC and Al Jazeera. It remains unclear whether he was working during his visit.
"We call on Kuwait to release Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and drop all charges against him,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “Journalism is not a crime."
Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, also urged his release, describing him as a "journalist of rare strength, integrity and compassion."
Reuters could not independently verify the circumstances of his detention or the reported charges.
Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said on 28 February that residents should avoid filming missile interceptions, security personnel or related incidents, urging reliance on official sources.
On 2 March, state news agency KUNA reported arrests linked to violations affecting public security, including filming and circulating video clips.
Elsewhere, Qatar’s Interior Ministry said on 9 March that 313 people had been arrested for offences including spreading misleading information. In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi police said on 8 April that 375 individuals had been detained in similar cases, with files referred to prosecutors.
Reuters could not confirm how these cases have progressed, and officials in Qatar and the UAE did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Foreign ministers meeting in Istanbul on Friday warned that renewed military strikes on Iran could deepen the regional conflict, urging diplomatic ...
Georgia’s Constitutional Court has extended hearings in a case seeking to ban five opposition parties, with proceedings now set to continue u...
Pakistan and the European Union have agreed to step up counterterrorism cooperation as security concerns over Afghanistan grow and tensions between...
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Super typhoon Champi is set to batter Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture from Friday (23 October), bringing violent winds, torrential rain and waves up to 11 metres high, as airlines cancel flights and organisers scrap a major festival.
The modern state has been formed within the framework of the principle of secularism. For this reason, the principle of secularism is reflected in constitutional texts, which are regarded as a social contract and regulate relations between the state and society (citizens).
Foreign ministers meeting in Istanbul on Friday warned that renewed military strikes on Iran could deepen the regional conflict, urging diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
Georgia’s Constitutional Court has extended hearings in a case seeking to ban five opposition parties, with proceedings now set to continue until 30 October. The court in Batumi will resume hearings on Monday, 26 October, after missing its original 23 October deadline.
Pakistan and the European Union have agreed to step up counterterrorism cooperation as security concerns over Afghanistan grow and tensions between Islamabad and Kabul persist.
The head of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) says Armenia has effectively withdrawn from the military alliance, despite not formally ending its membership.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved a new alphabet, bringing the Latin-script Uzbek alphabet closer to other alphabets used in the Turkic world.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment