An American-Kuwaiti journalist has been detained in Kuwait after commenting on videos and images related to the US-Israeli war with Iran, according to reports from multiple sources including BBC News and HuffPost. Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has contributed to major outlets like BBC, The New York Times, and Al Jazeera, was last seen on March 2.
Key Takeaways
An American-Kuwaiti journalist has been detained in Kuwait after sharing social media posts related to the US-Israeli war with Iran. Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has contributed to major outlets including BBC, New York Times, and Al Jazeera, was last seen on March 2.
- Journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin detained in Kuwait for sharing social media posts about the US-Israeli war with Iran
- Charges include spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone
- Committee to Protect Journalists calls for his immediate release
- Kuwaiti authorities have been detaining individuals for sharing footage of Iranian attacks
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that Shihab-Eldin is facing charges including spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone. The CPJ called for his immediate and unconditional release, describing the charges as "vague and overly broad accusations that are routinely used to silence independent journalists." There was no immediate comment from Kuwaiti authorities.
Shihab-Eldin had been visiting his family in Kuwait when he shared a verified video on his Substack account showing a US F-15 fighter jet crashing near Kuwait City, along with photos of an American pilot who had ejected and landed in the al-Jahra area. According to CPJ regional director Sara Qudah, "Journalism is not a crime, and Shihab-Eldin's case reflects a broader pattern of using national security laws to stifle scrutiny and control the narrative."
The detention comes amid heightened media censorship in Gulf Arab states, including Kuwait, which have been detaining individuals for sharing footage documenting Iranian missile and drone attacks. The BBC has contacted the Kuwaiti government for comment, but no response was immediately available.
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