An American-Kuwaiti journalist who was detained by authorities in Kuwait last month after he re-posted videos and images related to the US-Israeli war with Iran, has been acquitted, according to his international legal team.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin was understood to have been charged with spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone.
On Thursday, London-based barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC said Shihab-Eldin had been found innocent of all charges and was expected to be released imminently.
Kuwaiti authorities have not commented on the case, but Human Rights groups have expressed concern. Kuwait, along with other Gulf Arab states, has detained hundreds for sharing footage documenting Iranian attacks during the ongoing conflict.
Shihab-Eldin was visiting family in Kuwait when he shared a verified video on his Substack account depicting a U.S. fighter jet crashing after it was mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses. Following this, he was arrested the next day and held for 52 days.
Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, expressed relief over the verdict but emphasized the ongoing need for vigilance regarding media freedom in the region, especially as Kuwait’s interior ministry has warned against the dissemination of unverified content.
The Kuwaiti government has also recently implemented new legislation which imposes severe penalties for anyone spreading information that could undermine military confidence.
