Kuwait Acquits US-Kuwaiti Journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin After 52-Day Detention Over Social Media Posts
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a US-Kuwaiti journalist, has been acquitted of all charges in Kuwait, his international legal team confirmed on Thursday. Shihab-Eldin had been detained for 52 days following his arrest on 3 March.
The journalist was understood to have faced charges including spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone. These charges stemmed from his re-posting of images and videos on social media related to the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.
On 2 March, Shihab-Eldin shared a verified video on his Substack account depicting a US F-15 fighter jet crashing near Kuwait City, alongside photographs he stated showed an American pilot who had ejected. The jet was reportedly one of three mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences. His legal team stated the charges were based on his re-posting of images already verified and published by international media.
London-based barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC announced Shihab-Eldin’s innocence on all charges and anticipated his imminent release. “We are relieved that, after 52 days in detention, Ahmed has been found innocent on all charges. Our focus now is upon ensuring the liberty and safety of our client, and we will provide more details once they can be confirmed,” Gallagher stated.
Kuwaiti authorities have not issued a public statement on the case. However, Kuwait and other Gulf Arab states have previously indicated they have detained hundreds of individuals for sharing footage documenting Iranian attacks on their territory during the war.
Earlier this month, the Kuwaiti interior ministry urged the public to “refrain from spreading rumours or sharing unverified videos and images,” warning that such actions were being “closely monitored and dealt with firmly.” The country’s emir also issued a decree last month aimed at “securing and protecting the supreme interests of military entities,” which reportedly stipulates prison sentences of up to 10 years for disseminating news intended to undermine confidence in military bodies.
