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
New censorship law threatens freedom of expression and opinion, says HRinfo
(HRinfo/IFEX) – On 6 February 2008, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) stated that the new website censorship law the Kuwaiti government intends to present to the parliament is contradictory to the dominant trend in most democratic countries, where an increase of freedom of expression, especially on the internet, is recommended. An article […]
Al-Jazeera sentenced to heavy fine for “defamation”
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned a 20,000 dinar fine (approx. 50,000 euros) imposed by a court in Kuwait City on 17 January 2008 on Qatar-based satellite TV, al-Jazeera, over a programme judged to have defamed Kuwait. The case related to an exchange of insults between an Egyptian political analyst and a Kuwaiti journalist […]
Fourteen jailed under new dress code, abused in prison; law violates free expression, targets the transgendered, warns Human Rights Watch
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Kuwait: Repressive Dress-Code Law Encourages Police Abuse Arrests Target Transgender People (New York, January 17, 2008) – Authorities should immediately release more than a dozen persons jailed under Kuwait’s new dress-code law, Human Rights Watch said today. The law, approved by the National Assembly […]
Editor arrested over alleged insult posted on web forum; another beaten, detained overnight for photographing the arrest
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 22 August 2007 CPJ press release: Kuwaiti editors arrested after alleged insult is posted on Web forum New York, August 22, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by the arrest of two Kuwaiti journalists by the state security services in Kuwait City on Saturday. State […]