Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a Kuwaiti-American journalist recognized for his work with VICE, HuffPost, and Al Jazeera, has reportedly been detained in Kuwait, according to press freedom groups, after posting videos connected to the Iran war.
His detention comes amid a broader crackdown by Kuwait and other Gulf nations on individuals sharing images of Iranian missile strikes and other content considered sensitive. Media watchdogs have criticized these strict regulations.
In Shihab-Eldin’s situation, he had been actively posting updates on Substack and social media at the start of the conflict, but his posts abruptly stopped on March 2.
At the time, he was in Kuwait visiting family. Friends believe he has been held in custody for nearly six weeks. On Tuesday, they made his case public, hoping increased attention would lead to his release.
“We urge Kuwait to free Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and drop all charges against him,” said Sara Qudah, regional director for the Committee to Protect Journalists. “Journalism is not a crime, and his case highlights a wider pattern of using national security laws to suppress scrutiny and control narratives.”
The group also noted that authorities are believed to have charged him with spreading false information, endangering national security, and misusing his mobile phone—broad accusations often used to silence independent journalists.
CNN has contacted the Kuwaiti government for a response.
Friends of Shihab-Eldin have emphasized that the videos and images he shared were already publicly available. For example, he reposted a CNN clip showing a U.S. Air Force fighter jet crash in Kuwait.
However, Kuwaiti authorities had earlier warned citizens against recording or sharing any content related to missiles or sensitive locations.
“Such actions are under close surveillance and will be dealt with firmly, with offenders referred to the appropriate authorities for legal action,” Kuwait Times reported earlier this month.
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights stated in a recent report that the war has been used by Gulf countries to restrict free speech, limit civil liberties, and target journalists, bloggers, and online activists whose views differ from official positions.
The group added that such individuals often face arbitrary arrests, detention, and unfair trials based on fabricated charges under counterterrorism and cybercrime laws.
In the United Arab Emirates, multiple reports have also emerged of people being arrested for sharing images of missile strikes.
Shihab-Eldin’s detention gained public attention on Tuesday partly due to his long-standing prominence in the media industry.
In 2011, he co-created and co-hosted “The Stream” on Al Jazeera English, a groundbreaking program, and later contributed to launching HuffPost’s live streaming platform. He has also appeared as a guest on CNN and several other international networks.