Examining press freedom across GCC states
Repressive media laws in Gulf Cooperation Countries reflect concerning press freedom trends.
Blogger Salman Al-Khalidi sentenced to additional three years in prison in new case
GCHR calls on authorities to stop targeting Al-Khalidi immediately and to drop all sentences issued against him.
Kuwait: Time to achieve justice for the “Bidoon” community
International campaign calls for an end to discriminatory practices and the release of arbitrarily detained activists.
How a Kuwaiti transgender woman’s viral video sparked international solidarity
Maha al-Mutairi’s online video documentation of police abuse during her detainment rallied international solidarity for her release. However, discriminatory laws and police immunity in Kuwait continue to put trans people in danger.
Kuwait: 12 peaceful Bedoon activists must be freed immediately
The activists are being investigated on charges of threatening the state, spreading false news, harming the reputation of friendly countries, and misuse of the telephone.
Kuwaiti authorities continue to target human rights defenders supporting Bedoon rights
Authorities continue to target human rights defenders who took part in four sit-ins organised in front of the Central Apparatus for Illegal Residents’ Affairs.
Kuwaiti human rights defenders summoned for cyber-crime investigation
Abdulhakim Al-Fadhli and Hamid Jameel were summoned by Kuwait’s Electronic and Cyber Crime Combatting Department (ECCCD) for their peaceful activities on the internet.
Kuwaiti court strikes down draconian DNA law
The overly broad 2015 DNA law had required all Kuwaiti citizens, residents, and visitors to provide DNA samples to authorities, in violation of their right to personal privacy.
Prominent Bedoon rights advocate remains unjustly imprisoned in Kuwait
Prominent human rights defender Abdulhakim Al-Fadhli is still being held at the Central Prison in Kuwait and risks facing deportation from the country, according to reports received by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR).
Kuwait detains activist Sara Al-Drees for insulting the country’s ruler
In Kuwait, no one is immune from legal prosecution when criticizing the Emir and the ruling family.
Bedoon rights activist and woman rights defender arrested in Kuwait
On 18 April 2016, Kuwaiti security forces arrested Bedoon human rights activist Abdulhakim Al-Fadhli. Human rights defender Rana Al-Sadoun, who was arrested two days previously, has since been released from prison on bail.
Civil society to Obama: Live up to your 2011 promises, support reform in the Gulf
Eleven regional and international civil society groups have penned a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to press for the release of all detained rights defenders across the Gulf region who are imprisoned solely due to their peaceful and legitimate human rights work.
In Kuwait, parliamentary immunity is no protection for criticism
On March 29, Kuwait’s parliament voted to strip Member of Parliament, and human rights defender, Abdulhamid Dashti of his parliamentary immunity over comments he made against Saudi Arabia, and in support of Syrian President al-Assad.
Kuwait’s new cybercrimes law restricts free expression and targets online activists
The new legislation contains 21 articles which seek to regulate a number of online activities in Kuwait. There is particular concern that the new law, especially articles 4, 6 and 7, could be used to limit freedom of expression on the Internet, as well as to target online activists including bloggers and citizen journalists.