Journalist gets six-month jail term in continuing judicial harassment
Mohammed Abdel Qader Al-Jassem is currently the target of five lawsuits by the prime minister and information minister.
Courts fine member of parliament, journalist and two newspapers for articles critical of the prime minister
The heavy penalties have completely ruined the good image that the government has worked hard to establish, says ANHRI.
Political and religious thinkers barred from entering the country
The authorities should cease denying entry to visiting speakers solely on the basis of their opinions, says Human Rights Watch.
Draft amendments to press law threaten press freedom
The proposed changes would provide for prison sentences of one to two years for press offences and fines that could go as high as 100,000 dinars.
Journalist arrested over remarks made at a private social gathering
Muhammad Abd al-Qadir al-Jasim was arrested on 22 November 2009 on charges of libel and slander.
Anti-corruption journalist attacked
Photos of the journalist covered in blood have been placed on the website he publishes, with the caption: “Whatever you do, you will not prevent us from telling the truth.”
Ministry of Transportation monitors blogs and websites
Bloggers attribute the monitoring of their sites to the fact that they are debating and reflecting upon real societal problems.
Television comedy programmes banned in Egypt and Kuwait
The Kuwaiti and Egyptian authorities have banned two comedy programmes criticising government officials in each country.
Proposed Internet law aims to silence critical bloggers
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is an excerpt from WAN’s 12 August 2008 APN newsletter: “This new Kuwaiti law means two words: SHUT UP” After months of planning, Kuwait’s Public Prosecutors Office (PPO) is set to finalize a bill that will punish “Internet offenders” in the country. APN (the Arab Press Network, run by the World […]
Decree prohibits government employees from writing in newspapers
(ANHRI/IFEX) – The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said on 12 July 2008 that the Kuwaiti government’s issuing of a resolution to prevent official staff from writing in newspapers is a harsh blow to press freedom and freedom of expression, taking Kuwait back decades and violating several constitutional articles that ensure the freedoms of […]
Upsurge in court cases against journalists despite decriminalisation of press offences
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders expressed its disquiet at an upsurge in cases being brought against journalists in Kuwait, despite the fact it was the first Gulf state to decriminalise press offences. “The 2006 press law reform profoundly transformed the emirate’s media landscape. We urge the authorities to continue to strengthen the protection of the […]
New law overly restricts peaceful expression of dissent, says HRinfo
(HRinfo/IFEX) – On 15 April 2008, HRinfo stated that the new law issued by the Kuwaiti government days before, which infringes on the right to organize gatherings or peaceful protests, is overly restrictive. The Ministry of the Interior approved the law even though it contradicts a 2006 ruling by the Kuwaiti Constitutional Court upholding the […]
Annual Report 2008: The Gulf states
Annual Report 2008: The Gulf states
More transgender people arrested, mistreated in detention as dress-code crackdown continues
(HRW/IFEX) – The Following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Kuwait: Halt Dress-Code Crackdown Authorities Should Repeal Repressive Law, Free Detainees (New York, March 31, 2008) – New arrests show that Kuwait has resumed enforcing a repressive dress code that criminalizes “imitating the appearance of the opposite sex,” Human Rights Watch said today. It […]
Court strips two weekly newspapers of their licences, fines editors
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders deplores a Kuwait City criminal court’s decision to withdraw the licences of two weekly newspapers, “Al-Abraj” and “Al-Shaab”, in separate cases on 8 March 2008. The court fined “Al-Abraj” editor Mansur Ahmad Muhareb Al-Hayni and “Al-Shaab” editor Hamed Turki Abu Yabes 9,000 dinars (approx. 21,000 euros) each. Hayni was convicted […]
Freedom of the Press 2007: Kuwait
Freedom of the Press 2007: Kuwait