In a 25 January 2000 letter to the crown prince and prime minister, CPJ expressed its profound concern about the 24 January brutal beating of Ahmed Zahra, a photographer working for the Kuwaiti daily “Al-Rai al-Aam”. On 24 January, Zahra was assaulted by recently-elected member of parliament Khaled al-Adweh and a number of his supporters […]
In a 25 January 2000 letter to the crown prince and prime minister, CPJ expressed its profound concern about the 24 January brutal beating of Ahmed Zahra, a photographer working for the Kuwaiti daily “Al-Rai al-Aam”.
On 24 January, Zahra was assaulted by recently-elected member of parliament Khaled al-Adweh and a number of his supporters outside of al-Adweh’s campaign headquarters in the Al-Ahmedi district, south of Kuwait City. According to sources at “Al-Rai al-Aam”, the incident began after Zahra had photographed al-Adweh firing a Kalashnikov rifle in the air during a celebration of his electoral victory yesterday. Al-Adweh reportedly responded by pointing his firearm at the journalist and then punching him several times. A group of al-Adweh’s supporters joined in the attack, knocking the journalist to the ground and punching and kicking him repeatedly. The men temporarily confiscated Zahra’s camera, which was damaged in the fray, and took the film.
Zahra was taken to the hospital and treated for bruises and injuries to his leg. He was released four hours later.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the crown prince and prime minister:
– expressing your view that such violent attacks against journalists, if unpunished, will inhibit the ability of the press to function freely
– noting that you find it particularly dismaying that the attack was carried out by an elected representative of the Kuwaiti parliament, and would expect elected representatives to promote press freedom in Kuwait rather than violently suppress it
– urging His Excellency to initiate an immediate and thorough investigation into this deplorable attack on Ahmed Zahra and see to it that the perpetrators be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah
Crown Prince and Prime Minister
Al-Diwan al-Amiri
Al-Safat
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
