Kuwait

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 21 March 2001 letter to His Highness Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah, emir of the State of Kuwait, CPJ stated that it is deeply alarmed by the 20 March murder of editor Hidaya Sultan al-Salem, owner and editor of the weekly magazine “Al-Majales”. While a motive for this killing has not yet […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the minister of the interior, Sheikh Mohammed al-Hamad al-Sabah, RSF expressed its deep concern following the murder of Hudaya Sultan al-Salem, owner and editor-in-chief of the weekly “al-Majales”. RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard called on the minister “to ensure that an inquiry is quickly carried out and those responsible for […]

(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Kuwait: New Report Charges Serious Discrimination New Parliament Urged to Revoke Laws that Violate Rights (New York, October 25, 2000) – Human Rights Watch today called on Kuwait to revoke laws that discriminate against women and long-term non-citizens of Kuwait. In a report issued […]

The following is a 27 March 2000 Human Rights Watch press release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kuwaiti Court Ruling Limits Free Expression Writers, Journalists, Academics, and Publishers at Risk (New York, March 27, 2000) — Human Rights Watch today called on the Kuwaiti government to repeal laws unduly restricting freedom of expression. On Sunday an appeals […]

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 […]

MORE KUWAITI WRITERS SENTENCED TO PRISON Another Major Setback for Kuwaiti Freedom of Expression (New York, January 25, 2000)–Human Rights Watch today expressed deep concern about a Kuwaiti court ruling sentencing two women novelists and a publisher to prison for publishing “indecent” writings. The January 22 ruling is the latest in a series of cases […]

The following is a WAN letter to Kuwait’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister asking him to consider releasing two imprisoned journalists: His Royal Highness Sheikh Saad al-Abdallah al-Salem al-Sabah

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is gravely concerned about the Sunday 17 October 1999 decision by the Council of Ministers to suspend the daily “Al-Siyassa” for a period of five days. **Updates IFEX alert of 18 October 1999** “Al-Siyassa” began serving its suspension on Monday 18 October. The decision came in response to “Al-Siyassa”‘s 16 October front-page […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In an 18 October 1999 letter to the Emir of Kuwait, RSF voiced its concern over the five-day suspension of the daily “Al-Siyassah” because it had published an article quoting the leader of an Islamic group criticising women’s right to vote in Kuwait. “Journalists cannot be held responsible for reporting statements made by […]

(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a 13 October 1999 Human Rights Watch press release: **Updates IFEX alert of 7 October 1999** IMPRISONED KUWAITI SCHOLAR Academic Leaders Demand Release (New York, October 13, 1999) — In an open letter today to the emir of Kuwait, Human Rights Watch’s Academic Freedom Committee called for the immediate release […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is protesting in the strongest terms the conviction and imprisonment of Dr. Ahmad Baghdadi, head of the political science department at Kuwait University and a regular contributor to the daily newspaper “Al-Siyassa”. On 4 October 1999, a Kuwaiti appellate court sentenced Baghdadi to one month in prison for allegedly defaming Islam and […]

(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: Paris, 19 July 1999 For immediate release WAN Seeks Information About Jailed Kuwait Journalists The World Association of Newspapers has asked Kuwait’s Crown Prince to disclose the whereabouts of two jailed journalists and to explain why they were not released with three colleagues earlier this year. […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 23 June 1999 letter sent to the Emir of Kuwait, RSF requested the reopening of the Qatar-based TV station bureau in Kuwait City, urging him to ensure that press freedom is guaranteed in the emirate. RSF argued that, as the Kuwaiti information minister blamed the channel for broadcasting insults against the […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is strongly protesting the closure of the Qatar-based television station, Al-Jazeera. CPJ has learned that, on 19 June 1999, the Minister of Information, Youssef Muhammad al-Samait issued a decree ordering the shut down of Al-Jazeera’s Kuwait office and prohibiting the station from reporting from Kuwait because of alleged violations of professional ethics. […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the one-month suspension of the monthly “Al Hadath”, for publishing an allegedly “indecent” article. The court also sentenced Madi Al-Khamis, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, and Saad Al-Enezi, the editor of the article, to pay a fine of US$150 each. Recommended Action Send appeals to the Information Minister: suggesting that this sentence […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is warning the government of Kuwait against any measures taken to censor reports on Israel. On 9 January 1999, the Parliament (Majliss) called for the trial of Hamed Bouyabes, a Kuwaiti journalist who went to Israel to perform his job, on charges of “treason.” Recommended Action Send appeals to the Emir: drawing […]