Kuwaiti political commentator Mohammed Saleh al-Sabti was arrested in July 2026 after a media interview with Saudi-owned channel Al-Arabiya, according to the independent media outlet Newsroom, as well as a blogger and rights activist, who confirmed his arrest to CPJ on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns.
In the interview, al-Sabti called for calm and de-escalation, saying "we hope Iran will submit to reason and make peace with its neighbors, and commit to agreements" — a statement that prompted backlash on social media. CPJ could not independently verify the conditions of his arrest or the charges against him.
Al-Sabti is a prominent Kuwaiti political commentator who has written for and appeared on several media outlets, including Al-Arabiya, Kuwait-based newspaper Aljarida, and the independent outlet Arabi21, among others.
CPJ emailed the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington for comment but did not receive an immediate response.