Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist aged 41, has been detained in Kuwait and was last publicly active on March 2, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Shihab-Eldin was in Kuwait to see family when he stopped posting online and was not seen in public thereafter, the CPJ said.
The media watchdog reported that Shihab-Eldin has been charged with spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone. His most recent publicly available posts included videos and images related to the regional conflict, and his last Substack entries featured footage that showed a U.S. fighter jet crash near a U.S. air base in Kuwait.
Charges and legal context
Kuwait enacted legislation on March 15 that contains a provision allowing prison terms of up to 10 years for those found guilty of spreading false rumours connected to military entities with the intent of undermining confidence in them. The CPJ has urged Kuwaiti authorities to release Shihab-Eldin and to drop the charges, underscoring the organization’s position that reporting and publishing should not be treated as criminal acts when conducted in the public interest.
"We call on Kuwait to release Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and drop all charges against him. Journalism is not a crime," said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah.
Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, also called for Shihab-Eldin's release, describing him as a journalist of "rare strength, integrity and compassion."
Wider regional actions on footage and social media
Authorities across the Gulf have reported large-scale enforcement actions against people who filmed or circulated footage related to the Middle East conflict. Statements from national agencies and ministries detail multiple arrests in recent weeks for filming security operations or sharing content deemed misleading or likely to cause public alarm.
In Kuwait, the Interior Ministry advised the public on February 28 to refrain from recording missile interceptions, posting such footage online, or filming security personnel at work, urging reliance on official information sources. State reports on March 2 noted arrests linked to activities described as affecting public security, including filming events and circulating video clips.
Qatar's Interior Ministry announced on March 9 that 313 people of various nationalities had been arrested for filming and circulating video clips, spreading misleading information and rumours, and publishing material aimed at stirring public concern. In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi police said on April 8 that 375 people of various nationalities had been arrested over filming locations and sharing misleading information on social media in connection with current events, and that the cases had been referred to prosecutors.
Security backdrop and verification limits
The surge in restrictions and arrests followed a series of strikes and counterstrikes in the region. After February 28, Iran responded to U.S.-Israeli strikes by targeting U.S. military and energy installations in neighbouring Gulf states, a dynamic that officials have said increases sensitivity around the dissemination of footage related to those incidents.
Independent verification of the precise circumstances surrounding Shihab-Eldin's detention and the specific allegations against him was not possible. It was also not possible to determine the subsequent legal progress of the arrests reported across the Gulf, and there was no immediate response to requests for comment from authorities in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Kuwait government spokespeople did not immediately respond to attempts to obtain comment via email and telephone on Shihab-Eldin's case.
Professional background
Shihab-Eldin describes himself as an independent journalist who has contributed to a range of international media outlets, including the New York Times, HBO, Vice, PBS, BBC and Al Jazeera. It remained unclear whether he was working in a professional capacity in Kuwait during this visit, in addition to seeing family.
What this means for media and information flows
The detainee's case highlights tensions between state security measures and the activities of journalists and civilians sharing information online. Authorities in multiple Gulf countries have placed limits on filming or circulating material related to security incidents, a pattern that affects journalists, members of the public who record events, and the platforms that host such content.
Given the limited ability to independently confirm details of the arrests and legal steps taken, observers and rights groups have called for transparency and due process in handling these matters.