Award-winning journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been detained by authorities in Kuwait, sounding the alarm on crackdowns on press freedom across the region amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Kuwaiti authorities “to immediately and unconditionally” release the Kuwaiti American journalist, who maintains dual citizenship, according to The Guardian. He was arrested on March 3 while visiting family in Kuwait, according to the group.
While the reason for Shihab-Eldin’s arrest remains unclear, CPJ said the journalist shared publicly available videos and images related to the conflict in Iran in the days leading up to his detainment. The content Shihab-Eldin reposted was verified by other news outlets and was not content he captured himself, according to the organization.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Information issued a warning last month “not to photograph or publish any clips or information related to missiles or relevant locations.”
His social media pages, including on Instagram and X, have also vanished.
Recommended
Shihab-Eldin’s detainment has drawn attention on press freedom in countries in the Persian Gulf region. Kuwait is ranked 128th on the World Press Freedom Index, which compares the level of freedom enjoyed by journalists and media in 180 countries.
The government of Kuwait did not immediately respond to MS NOW’s request for comment.
Shihab-Eldin has worked for Al Jazeera English, HuffPost, PBS and Vice. He has won an Emmy and was a recipient of the Amnesty International Australia’s Human Rights Defender Award, which he won alongside several Palestinian journalists.
As the war in the region rages on, many countries, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, have been caught in the crossfire. Citing security concerns, these governments have imposed strict regulations on spreading news they have deemed “false,” with violations punishable by fines or imprisonment.
Kuwait’s constitution “guarantees freedom of the press, printing, and publishing,” but it has certain limitations and is “subject to the conditions and stipulations prescribed by Law.”
Erum Salam is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW, with a focus on how global events and foreign policy shape U.S. politics. She previously was a breaking news reporter for The Guardian.