Authorities in Kuwait have detained Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a 41-year-old U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist who had been visiting family, and he has not been seen in public or posted online since March 2, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday. CPJ reported that Shihab-Eldin has been charged with spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone.
CPJ said the journalist had been held for roughly six weeks at the time of its statement. Government spokespeople did not immediately respond to attempts to obtain comment via email and telephone.
The detention occurs against the backdrop of a broader regional tightening of controls over filming and sharing material related to the recent conflict. Gulf countries have reported hundreds of arrests of people who filmed sites affected by the fighting or shared conflict-related content online, according to official statements cited by media watchdogs and state agencies.
Kuwait enacted a law on March 15 that includes a provision imposing prison terms of up to 10 years for those found guilty of spreading false rumours about military entities with the intent to undermine confidence in them. CPJ listed the specific charges against Shihab-Eldin as spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone.
CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah called for the journalist's release, saying: "We call on Kuwait to release Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and drop all charges against him. Journalism is not a crime." The U.N. special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, also urged authorities to free Shihab-Eldin, praising him as a "journalist of rare strength, integrity and compassion." Reuters could not independently verify the circumstances of the detention or the reported charges.
The Interior Ministry in Kuwait had previously warned the public on February 28 to refrain from filming missile interceptions, sharing such footage on social media, or filming security personnel at work, and urged residents to rely on official sources. On March 2, the state news agency KUNA reported that the ministry had arrested a number of people over what it described as violations affecting public security, including filming events and circulating video clips. Independent confirmation of those arrests was not available.
Shihab-Eldin had posted publicly available videos and images related to the war before his detention. His final posts on his Substack account included footage that showed a U.S. fighter jet crash near a U.S. air base in Kuwait.
He describes himself as an independent journalist who has worked for multiple international media outlets, including the New York Times, HBO, Vice, PBS, BBC and Al Jazeera. It was not clear whether he was traveling to Kuwait solely to see family or also for work during this visit.
Other Gulf states have also reported numerous arrests in relation to filming and distributing material tied to the conflict. Qatar's Interior Ministry said on March 9 that 313 people of various nationalities had been arrested for filming and circulating video clips, spreading misleading information and rumours, and publishing material aimed at stirring public concern.
In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi police said on April 8 that 375 people of various nationalities had been arrested over filming locations and sharing misleading information on social media in connection with "current events," and that the cases had been referred to prosecutors. It was not possible to determine from available statements how those cases had proceeded.
A UAE official told reporters that numerous local and foreign media operate in the country "freely" in line with local laws that include prohibitions on entering restricted areas without a permit and taking photos where not allowed. The official added that such measures are "standard practice during periods of heightened security and are intended to ensure stability," but did not provide further details on the arrests.
The recent wave of attention to filming and online sharing of conflict-related footage follows a series of military actions in the region. Iran responded to U.S.-Israeli strikes from February 28 by targeting U.S. military and energy installations in neighbouring Gulf states, an escalation that prompted authorities to issue guidance and, in some cases, to arrest people for documenting or disseminating footage of those events.
Summary
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a dual U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist, has been detained in Kuwait and remains out of public view and off social media since March 2, according to CPJ. He faces charges including spreading false information and harming national security. The case takes place amid broader Gulf actions to restrict filming and circulation of material related to recent regional military activity.
Key points
- CPJ reports Shihab-Eldin has not posted online or been seen in public since March 2 and has been charged with spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone.
- Regional measures include a March 15 Kuwaiti law with prison terms up to 10 years for spreading false rumours about military entities, and statements from Gulf authorities reporting hundreds of arrests for filming or sharing conflict-related footage.
- The tightening on filming and dissemination of material follows military exchanges after February 28 that involved strikes and targeting of U.S. military and energy installations in neighbouring Gulf states.
Risks and uncertainties
- Legal risk to journalists and citizens: New and existing laws and charges related to spreading information about military matters create a heightened legal risk for individuals documenting events - this affects the media sector and individuals who share content online.
- Information gaps and limited verification: Authorities' reports of arrests and detentions in the region have not been independently confirmed in all cases, leaving uncertainty about the extent and handling of prosecutions - this impacts public information flows and oversight bodies.
- Operational constraints during heightened security: Requests by security authorities for the public to rely on official sources and restrictions on filming in certain areas can limit independent reporting and civilian documentation - this influences media operations and potentially the communications environment for businesses operating in affected areas.