Editor’s note: Kuwaiti journalist Adel al-Yahya was released from detention on December 18, 2011, after spending approximately five weeks in custody in Iran. He was released following diplomatic negotiations between Iran and Kuwait.
Adel al-Yahya, a Kuwaiti television presenter for Al-Adalah TV, was arrested on November 11, 2011, in the southwestern Iranian city of Abadan while on assignment with freelance cameraman Raed al-Majed, according to news reports. The two journalists had traveled to Iran to produce a television program about Kuwaitis married to Iranian citizens.
Iranian authorities accused al-Yahya and al-Majed of espionage and entering the country illegally. Kuwaiti officials rejected the allegations, saying both journalists had obtained valid visas from the Iranian Embassy before traveling to Iran and were carrying out a legitimate reporting assignment. Iranian officials later maintained that they had violated the terms of their tourist visas.
Following diplomatic efforts by the Kuwaiti government, Iranian authorities released al-Yahya and al-Majed on December 18, 2011. They returned to Kuwait aboard a special flight after spending about five weeks in detention.