US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin acquitted after 52 days in detention

• A Kuwaiti court has acquitted US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin of all charges following nearly two months in custody.
• The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomed the decision, stating his freedom and safety remain a top priority.
• Shihab-Eldin, an award-winning journalist, was arrested on March 3 while visiting family in Kuwait.

A Kuwaiti court has acquitted US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin of all charges after he spent nearly two months in detention. The acquittal was confirmed on Thursday, April 23, 2026, by lawyers representing Shihab-Eldin's sisters.

CPJ welcomes the court's decision

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement welcoming the court's ruling and expressing relief over the case's resolution.

“We are relieved that Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been found innocent after 52 days in detention,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg. She emphasized that the organization will continue to keep a close watch on the situation, adding, “Ahmed’s freedom and safety remain our topmost priority and we will continue to closely monitor his case.”

Background of the arrest

Shihab-Eldin is an award-winning journalist known for his contributions to major international news outlets, including The New York Times, PBS, and Al Jazeera English.

The journalist had traveled to Kuwait to visit family earlier this year. According to reports, he had not posted any content online since March 2 and was subsequently arrested by authorities on March 3, initiating a 52-day period of detention that prompted widespread concern from international press freedom advocates.