Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, an award-winning U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist and producer, was arrested on March 3, 2026, in Kuwait, while visiting family after commenting on publicly available videos and images related to the Iran war.
Shihab-Eldin — who has contributed to The New York Times, PBS, and Al Jazeera English, among others — was initially held incommunicado at two separate interrogation facilities before being moved to Kuwait Central Prison, and prosecuted by a newly established specialized court for state security and terrorism-related crimes, created by decree on March 31.
He was released after a judge acquitted him on April 23 of the charge of spreading false information, finding him innocent, and refrained from pronouncing punishment on the other two charges – harming national security and misusing his mobile phone – with a pledge of good conduct for six months, according to a statement by his lawyers. On April 26, the prosecution appealed the disposal of the second and third charges, which his lawyers said they were contesting.
He was released on April 30, and subsequently left Kuwait, according to the statement.
Shihab-Eldin’s detention took place amid military escalations during the Iran war, with Kuwaiti authorities — and other Gulf countries — imposing increasingly tight censorship over the press. Prior to his arrest, the journalist shared a geolocated video, verified by CNN, showing a U.S. fighter jet crash near a U.S. air base in Kuwait.
On March 2, a few days after the start of the Iran war, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior warned against filming or publishing videos or information related to Iranian attacks, noting that several people were arrested for spreading false news. The Ministry of Information also referred individuals accused of violating media laws to the Public Prosecution.
On March 15, Kuwait enacted Law No. 13 of 2026, aimed at safeguarding and protecting the supreme interests of military authorities. Article 26 imposes prison sentences up to 10 years for anyone who “disseminates news, publishes statements, or spreads false rumors related to military entities” with the intent of undermining confidence in them.
CPJ emailed the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment but received no immediate response.