In the 1980s, renowned communist Iraqi poet, Muzaffar al-Nawwab, criticized the repressive regimes in the Arab world in one of his poems, saying:
“This (Arab) homeland, which extends from the sea to the sea
is formed of adjacent prisons, where
a jailer captures another”
Al-Nawwab’s words describe a bitter reality about US-led Arab states, which exercise maximal forms of repression against whoever opposes their subjugation to the United States.
This reality has become more evident in the last month and a half, amid the US-Israeli aggression on Iran. Dozens of people, including party members, activists, and journalists, have been arrested in different parts of the region for expressing their opinion or posting content related to the regional war, on the pretext of maintaining national security.
Kuwaiti authorities detain Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
Prominent Kuwaiti-American journalist, Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, was arrested by the Kuwaiti authorities in early March – based on estimates – as he disappeared after he had posted footage of a US warplane crash west of Kuwait City on March 2.
The warplane was one of three US fighter jets mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in friendly fire incidents. Those fighter jets were taking part in the offensive against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The detention of Shihab-Eldin has raised concerns as he is reportedly facing charges of “harming national security, spreading false information, and misusing his mobile phone” under new security laws enacted in Kuwait.
According to the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), Shihab-Eldin is one of dozens of citizens, who were arbitrarily arrested by the state security apparatus for peacefully expressing their opinions on social media.
GCHR reported that elderly people, women, and young children in need of care, have been among the detainees.
Shihab-Eldin’s detention triggers international outcry
The detention of the celebrated journalist, who gained eminence as an independent voice and commentator during Israel’s genocide in Gaza, has triggered international outcry, and calls for his immediate release.
CPJ
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) denounced on Tuesday, April 14, the charges listed against Shihab-Eldin as “vague and overly broad accusations that are routinely used to silence independent journalists.”
The CPJ urged Kuwaiti authorities “to release Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and drop all charges against him”, emphasizing that “journalism is not a crime”.
The committee further warned that “Shihab-Eldin’s case reflects a broader pattern of using national security laws to stifle scrutiny and control the narrative.”
NPC
Meanwhile, Washington-based National Press Club (NPC) issued a statement on Wednesday, April 15, in which it voiced great concern on the arrest of Shihab-Eldin.
NPC pointed out that the move appears to be “designed to further government censorship of the ongoing Iran war and intimidate journalists from reporting outside of official government narratives.”
Read more: Over 3,700 killed in US and Israeli attacks on Iran
The club called for “the immediate release of Shihab-Eldin and for full transparency regarding any charges against him.”
Francesca Albanese
For her part, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese, praised Shihab-Eldin’s journalistic work, and called for his freedom in a post on X.
“One of the most gentle souls the genocide has brought into my life is Ahmed Shihab Eldin, journalist of rare strength, integrity & compassion. US-born Kuwaiti citizen, Ahmed has been imprisoned by Kuwaiti authorities for his work since 3 March. Journalism is not a crime,” Albanese noted, adding the hashtag “#FreeAhmed” to the end of her post.
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