GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed serious concern about the arbitrary arrest, detention, and prosecution in Kuwait of Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, in apparent retaliation for his legitimate work as a journalist.
Shihab-Eldin is an internationally respected journalist and a citizen of the United States and Kuwait of Palestinian descent. He was reportedly arrested in March 2026 while visiting family in Kuwait. He was forcibly disappeared for four days – during which his fate and whereabouts were unknown – and detained for almost two months.
“The authorities appear to have violated Mr. Shihab-Eldin’s right to liberty and the prohibition on enforced disappearance,” the experts said.
Shihab-Eldin was falsely charged with spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing a mobile phone, after having reported on military activities relating to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Gulf States including Kuwait. He was acquitted on the first charge and convicted on the other two, with no punishment recorded. After being released on a pledge of “good conduct” for six months, he was stripped of his Kuwaiti citizenship.
“We are deeply concerned that Mr. Shihab-Eldin’s arrest appears to be linked to his legitimate work reporting on matters of public interest,” the experts said. “States must ensure that journalists and others can carry out their professional work without fear of arrest, harassment or reprisals.”
“Vague and overly broad charges such as ‘spreading false news’ or ‘harming national security’ must not be used to criminalise legitimate journalism or unduly restrict freedom of expression,” they said.
The experts noted that while Kuwaiti law does not permit dual nationality, the timing and speed of the revocation of citizenship seemed punitive and appeared to form part of a discriminatory pattern against individuals of Palestinian origin. “The decision to strip citizenship may violate the international prohibition on the arbitrary deprivation of nationality,” they said.
The case occurred in the context of recent legal and policy developments in Kuwait, including new legislation restricting reporting on military entities (Decree Law No. 13 of 2026), establishing new terrorist offences (Decree Law No. 47 of 2026), and the creation of specialised prosecution bodies and courts.
“These measures risk further misuse of criminal law and specialised bodies to silence independent voices and restrict civic space,” the experts said.
They were also alarmed by the inhumane and undignified conditions of detention in Kuwait, and reports of at least three deaths in custody due to denial of medical care.
The experts are in touch with the Governments of Kuwait and of the United Sates of America on this matter.
