A U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist who was detained in Kuwait over online posts related to the Iran war has been released and departed the Gulf nation, a U.S. State Department official confirmed on Friday.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, 41, had been held since early March. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that he had not been seen in public since March 2, after being taken into custody by Kuwaiti authorities during a broader crackdown by Gulf nations on individuals filming or sharing footage from the conflict that began when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February.
Arrest and Charges
Shihab-Eldin was visiting family in Kuwait when he was arrested on March 3, according to CPJ. The media watchdog stated that he was charged with spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone. The charges stemmed from his social media posts, which included videos and images related to the war, among them footage showing a U.S. fighter jet crash in Kuwait.
Acquittal and Release
A Kuwaiti court acquitted Shihab-Eldin on all charges after nearly two months of detention, CPJ announced on Thursday, citing a statement from lawyers representing Shihab-Eldin’s sisters. CPJ welcomed the acquittal, which followed calls from press freedom groups and human rights advocates for his release.
A State Department official said, “We can confirm that American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has safely departed Kuwait. While in detention, the State Department was in contact with Mr. Shihab-Eldin and provided consular assistance.” The official declined further comment, citing privacy and other considerations. Kuwait’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Context of the Crackdown
Kuwait enacted a law on March 15 that included a provision carrying prison terms of up to 10 years for spreading false rumors related to military entities with the intent of undermining confidence in them. The Interior Ministry had previously urged the public on February 28 to refrain from filming missile interceptions, sharing such footage on social media, and filming security personnel at work, directing people to rely on official sources.
Shihab-Eldin describes himself as an independent journalist who has worked for international media outlets including the New York Times, HBO, Vice, PBS, BBC, and Al Jazeera.
The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states with U.S. bases. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions. A fragile ceasefire in the Iran war began over two weeks ago.
