A Kuwaiti court has acquitted US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin of all charges, bringing an end to his 52-day detention—a case that had sparked significant international concern over press freedom and the expanding restrictions imposed on speech in relation to national security matters. The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed relief at the outcome, emphasizing the troubling nature of the charges linked to Shihab-Eldin’s journalistic activity. The journalist is known for his work with notable outlets such as The New York Times, PBS, Al Jazeera English, and VICE.
Shihab-Eldin was arrested on March 3 while visiting family in Kuwait, facing charges of spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his phone. His detention stemmed from heightened military tensions in the region, with Kuwait and neighboring Gulf states intensifying media censorship efforts. At the time, the Ministry of Interior had issued warnings against sharing information related to Iranian attacks, which had already led to several detentions under claims of “false news” dissemination.
Before his arrest, Shihab-Eldin had shared publicly available footage concerning regional military developments, including a CNN-verified video of a US fighter jet crash near a US base in Kuwait. Kuwait’s recent legislative move, Decree-Law No. 13 of 2026, imposes severe penalties for spreading information about military entities that might undermine public trust, a measure criticized by human rights observers including the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor.
Legal experts and advocacy organizations have critiqued these charges as excessively broad, frequently risking the criminalization of journalistic endeavors. Under international human rights standards, restrictions on expression should meet criteria of legality, necessity, and proportionality, and must be linked to tangible security threats. According to Reporters Without Borders, the state retains substantial control over information flow, with prior instances of media outlets being shut down over dissenting views on government policies.
The case aligns with a more extensive pattern of repression observed in 2025, documented by Amnesty International. The organization noted an uptick in arbitrary arrests, prosecutions for outspoken expressions, and constraints on public gatherings, highlighting the troubling usage of cybercrime and media laws to penalize online commentators critical of state institutions.
This acquittal marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding press freedom in the region, with Shihab-Eldin’s case shedding light on the broader implications of national security concerns on freedom of expression.