Kuwaiti authorities have escalated their repression of government critics in 2024, as detailed in a new report released by Amnesty International this Thursday. The report documents various acts of repression since January, including arbitrary arrests and the revocation of Kuwaiti citizenship for civilians and the prosecution of political figures.
Devin Kenney, Amnesty International’s researcher on Kuwait, emphasized the severity of these developments by stating, “Kuwaiti authorities must immediately end this chilling wave of repression. No one should face prosecution or imprisonment simply for criticizing the government.” He further urged for the release of all those detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights and for charges against them to be dropped. More on Kenney’s remarks can be found here.
The Amnesty report indicates that at least three individuals have been sentenced to prison this year simply for “publicly voicing their views and opinions.” Those sentenced include Anwar Hayati, Mohammad al-Bargash, and Abdullah Fairouz, who each received prison terms ranging from three to five years for allegedly insulting or criticizing the emir or the royal family.
Additionally, the report exposes instances where at least nine men and their families have been stripped of their Kuwaiti citizenship without explicit reasons being provided. Kenney pointed out that the Kuwaiti authorities seem to treat nationality as a privilege that they arbitrarily bestow or withdraw based on political opinions.
In a related development, Kuwaiti authorities have commenced prosecution of politicians for expressing criticisms against the government. These actions by the authorities arguably violate international standards on freedom of expression, as laid out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The heightened repression coincides with the recent decision by Emir Mishal Al-Sabah to dissolve the nation’s parliament and suspend constitutional provisions requiring an elected legislature. This decision followed closely after the country’s national parliamentary elections, with the executive cabinet assuming some of the parliament’s powers for up to four years.
This is not an unprecedented move; in 2016, the then Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also dissolved parliament citing security challenges and regional instability.
The pattern of repression is rooted in Kuwait’s legal framework, including its penal code and cybercrime law, which criminalize speech deemed insulting to religion, the emir, or foreign leaders. Over the past decade, these laws have been employed to suppress dissent and criticism of the government. According to Human Rights Watch, Kuwait has significantly curtailed public freedoms, making it increasingly risky for individuals to exercise their human rights.