Kuwait: Authorities must end wave of repression against critics

The Kuwaiti authorities have been escalating the repression of critics throughout 2024, by prosecuting and imposing prison sentences on individuals solely based on their speeches or writings, and stripping people of their nationality, Amnesty International said today. Over the past six months, Kuwaiti authorities arbitrarily imprisoned at least seven people for publicly voicing their views and opinions, stripped Kuwaiti nationality from at least nine individuals, and prosecuted a parliamentary candidate for criticizing the system of government. This wave of repression was accompanied by Emir Meshal Al Sabah’s decision on 10 May 2024 to dissolve the newly elected parliament and suspend parliamentary government and elections for up to four years. “The spike in prosecutions of activists, human rights defenders and parliamentarians because of their critical statements about the government demonstrates that the Kuwaiti authorities are escalating the clampdown on human rights, including the right to freedom of expression,” said Devin Kenney, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Kuwait.“Kuwaiti authorities must immediately end this chilling wave of repression. No one should face prosecution or imprisonment simply for criticizing the government. The authorities must immediately release all those detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights and drop the charges against them.”