Kuwait strips journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin of citizenship days after release
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- Kuwait revokes citizenship of journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin following his acquittal and departure from the country.
Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of prominent US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, only days after he was released from a nearly two-month detention and allowed to leave the country.
The decision, issued Wednesday by the Supreme Committee for Nationality Affairs, targeted 21 individuals under Article 11 of the nationality law. The provision mandates that a Kuwaiti national loses their citizenship if they voluntarily acquire a foreign nationality. Shihab-Eldin, 41, is a dual US-Kuwaiti citizen of Palestinian origin.
Background on Detention and Release
The move follows a period of significant international scrutiny regarding the journalist’s treatment. Shihab-Eldin was arrested on March 3 while visiting family in Kuwait. His detention lasted 52 days, during which he was accused of:
- Spreading false information.
- Harming national security.
- Misusing a mobile phone.
On April 23, a Kuwaiti court acquitted him of all charges. The US State Department confirmed last Friday that Shihab-Eldin had "safely left" Kuwait, following weeks of consular assistance.
Regional Tensions and Freedom of Press
The journalist's arrest was linked to a social media post featuring geolocated footage of a US fighter jet crash near a military base in Kuwait. This post occurred during a period of heightened regional conflict that began on February 28, when the US and 'Israel' launched strikes on Iran.
The fighting, which saw daily exchanges until an April 8 ceasefire, triggered a wider crackdown on expression across the Gulf. Rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), noted that Kuwait and its neighbors have targeted hundreds of individuals for sharing imagery related to Iranian attacks or military movements.
Legal and Social Implications
The revocation of Shihab-Eldin’s citizenship is part of a broader trend of enforcement by the Kuwaiti government. Under Article 11:
- Dual Nationality: The state prohibits citizens from holding two passports.
- Dependents: The law extends to spouses and minor children.
- Renunciation: Naturalized citizens must renounce other nationalities within three months or face voidance of their Kuwaiti status.
Rights advocates warn that while Article 11 is a long-standing law, its application is increasingly being used as a "weapon" against journalists and public figures.
"National security is being used as a pretext to crack down on freedom of speech," stated Sara Qudah, CPJ’s Middle East regional director. "Shihab-Eldin’s case is emblematic of a shift toward more authoritarian practices in a state once considered relatively free."
Shihab-Eldin is an award-winning independent journalist known for his work with Al Jazeera English, The New York Times, and The New Arab. Neither the journalist nor the Kuwaiti government has issued a further statement regarding the specific timing of the revocation following his acquittal.
