Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Apr 25: U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been released after nearly two months of detention in Kuwait and has left the Gulf nation, a U.S. State Department official confirmed.
The 41-year-old journalist had been detained over social media posts related to the ongoing Iran war. He had not been seen in public since March 2, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Shihab-Eldin was visiting family in Kuwait when he was arrested on March 3 during a wider crackdown by Gulf nations on individuals filming or sharing footage related to the conflict, which began after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February.
According to CPJ, he faced charges including spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone. However, a Kuwaiti court acquitted him of all charges following his detention.
The press freedom group welcomed the acquittal, noting that it had earlier urged Kuwaiti authorities to release the journalist and drop all charges.
A U.S. State Department official said Shihab-Eldin had safely departed Kuwait and confirmed that consular assistance was provided during his detention. No further details were shared due to privacy considerations.
Kuwait had enacted a law on March 15 prescribing prison terms of up to 10 years for spreading false rumours related to military entities with the intent of undermining confidence in them.
Before his detention, Shihab-Eldin had posted videos and images related to the conflict on social media, including footage of a U.S. fighter jet crash in Kuwait.
He is an independent journalist who has worked with several international media organisations, including The New York Times, HBO, Vice, PBS, BBC and Al Jazeera.
The conflict began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel carried out strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iran on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases. The hostilities have resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement, although a fragile ceasefire has been in place for over two weeks.
Kuwait’s Interior Ministry had earlier advised the public to refrain from filming missile interceptions or security operations and urged reliance on official sources for information.