Kuwait

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Kuwait
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Kuwaiti citizen Raken Subaiya checks his Twitter feed on his phone as Yousef al Anazi looks on during a sit-in protest in front of the Justice Palace in Kuwait City October 19, 2012, REUTERS/Stephanie Mcgehee

New Kuwaiti cybercrime law a blow to free speech

Articles 6 and 7 of the new law expand the reach of existing prohibitions on print publications to virtually all dissemination of information through the Internet, including online journalism and private use of social media and blogs.

Link to: Kuwaiti blogger loses appeal of 6-year sentence for tweets criticizing Saudi Arabia

Kuwaiti blogger loses appeal of 6-year sentence for tweets criticizing Saudi Arabia

Kuwait’s Court of Cassation on June 12, 2015, upheld a six-year sentence for blogger Saleh al-Saeed for tweets criticizing Saudi Arabia.

Link to: Kuwaiti authorities disperse opposition demonstration, arrest 16 protesters

Kuwaiti authorities disperse opposition demonstration, arrest 16 protesters

Eleven of the protesters were released on March 25 and are expected to face charges of illegal gathering. Five remain in custody and may face charges of attacking law enforcement offices in addition to the illegal gathering charges.

Link to: Kuwaiti ex-lawmaker held after posting critical tweets

Kuwaiti ex-lawmaker held after posting critical tweets

Saleh al-Mulla was charged with insulting the Emir, insulting a foreign leader, and endangering bilateral relations over critical tweets he sent before an official visit by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt.

Kuwaiti activist sentenced for insulting the Emir on Twitter

The Kuwaiti Court of Cassation sentenced activist Saqr Al-Hashash to one year and eight months in prison for insulting the Emir through tweets he posted on his personal Twitter account.

Link to: Kuwaiti government critics stripped of citizenship

Kuwaiti government critics stripped of citizenship

Kuwaiti authorities have announced the third batch of citizenship revocations this year, during a general crackdown on dissent.

Link to: Kuwait orders arrest of novelist for “insulting Saudi Arabia” on Twitter

Kuwait orders arrest of novelist for “insulting Saudi Arabia” on Twitter

An arrest warrant was issued to novelist Rania al-Saad on 27 August 2014 as a result of a report filed against her by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs accusing her of “insulting Saudi Arabia” on Twitter.

Link to: Popular Kuwaiti blogger charged with blasphemy

Popular Kuwaiti blogger charged with blasphemy

Well-known Kuwaiti human rights activist and blogger Mohammed Al-Ajmi was arrested in connection with a tweet.

Link to: Kuwait’s telecom law violates free speech

Kuwait’s telecom law violates free speech

Kuwait’s new telecommunications law gives the government sweeping powers to block content, deny access to the Internet, and revoke licenses without giving reasons.

Link to: Five Kuwaiti critics stripped of their citizenship

Five Kuwaiti critics stripped of their citizenship

As part of a wider crackdown on people seeking reform, Kuwaiti authorities have stripped five critics of their citizenship leaving them stateless.

The groundbreaking comic THE 99 has sought to give the Muslim community its own superheroes, Facebook/ Naif Al-Mutawa

ISIS militants call for death of Kuwaiti cartoonist

A death sentence has been pronounced via Twitter for Kuwaiti-born comic-book innovator Naif Al-Mutawa by the jihadist militant group ISIS (also known as ISIL).

Link to: Activist gets two-year prison sentence for defaming Kuwaiti Emir

Activist gets two-year prison sentence for defaming Kuwaiti Emir

Kuwaiti blogger and activist Hijab Al-Hajri has been sentenced to two years in prison for defaming the Kuwaiti Emir and attempting to overthrow the regime.

Link to: Three former members of Kuwait’s National Assembly sentenced to jail

Three former members of Kuwait’s National Assembly sentenced to jail

Kuwait’s Court of Cassation sentenced three former members of the dissolved National Assembly to one year and eight months in jail over charges of insulting the Emirate’s governor and the Emir himself.

Link to: In Kuwait, deported for an opinion

In Kuwait, deported for an opinion

The Kuwaiti authorities recently announced that they will deport Egyptian Imam Sayed Faraj Abu Halima, for criticising the Egyptian elections.

Link to: Two Kuwaiti newspapers suspended for violating ban on coverage of alleged coup

Two Kuwaiti newspapers suspended for violating ban on coverage of alleged coup

The Kuwaiti public prosecutor’s office issued a decision on 20 April suspending two daily newspapers that defied a two-month-old ban on covering an investigation into videotapes that allegedly reveal plans to stage a coup d’etat.

Link to: Kuwait sentences online activist to 5 years in jail and permanent exile for insulting the emir

Kuwait sentences online activist to 5 years in jail and permanent exile for insulting the emir

Kuwaiti Activist Abdullah Fairouz Abdullah Abd al-Kareem was handed down a five-year sentence followed by permanent exile over his Twitter comments.