U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been acquitted of all charges by a Kuwaiti court following nearly two months in detention, in a case that had raised serious concerns among press freedom advocates.
Shihab-Eldin, an award-winning journalist who has contributed to major international outlets including The New York Times, PBS, and Al Jazeera English, was detained on March 3 while visiting family in Kuwait. He had not been active online since March 2, shortly before his arrest.
According to statements from his legal representatives, the court formally cleared him of all accusations on April 23, bringing an end to a case that had drawn international attention due to its implications for press freedom and the use of broadly defined security-related charges against journalists.
The journalist’s detention came amid a tightening media environment in Kuwait, where authorities have recently introduced stricter controls over reporting related to military and security issues.
Free Press Alliance welcomes the acquittal of Ahmed Shihab-Eldin but strongly condemns his initial detention and prosecution. The use of vague or expansive legal provisions to detain journalists poses a serious threat to press freedom and creates a chilling effect on reporting. Authorities must ensure that journalists are not subjected to arbitrary detention for carrying out their work and uphold legal safeguards that protect the free flow of information.