Kuwaiti American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin is expected to be freed after being taken into custody early last month in Kuwait City, it was announced Thursday.
Shihab-Eldin, whose past work includes reporting for HuffPost, was arrested March 3 and faced prosecution in a special tribunal over social media posts about the Iran war, it was previously reported.
The Committee to Protect Journalists announced his coming release in a statement.
“CPJ welcomes the news that journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been acquitted. Full details are still being ascertained but his international legal team confirms that he has been found innocent of the charges and he is expected to be released imminently,” the organization said.
His charges included spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone, according to The Guardian.
A human rights lawyer in the U.K. also announced his acquittal, citing his international legal team.
“We are relieved that, after 52 days in detention, Ahmed has been found innocent on all charges,” said Caoilfhionn Gallagher, international counsel to Shihab-Eldin’s sisters, Lara and Luma Eldin, in a statement. “Our focus now is upon ensuring the liberty and safety of our client, and we will provide more details once they can be confirmed.”
It wasn’t immediately clear what online activity may have led to Shihab-Eldin’s arrest, though the 41-year-old had shared footage March 2 on his Substack page of a U.S. Air Force fighter plane crashing west of Kuwait City. Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior that same day warned against filming or publishing videos or information related to Iranian attacks.
“None of his posts were photos or videos that he took himself,” the CPJ said in an online petition calling for his release.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
