Articles for Kuwait

On 19 March 2015, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (SR FRDX) on the case of Dar Al Watan Journalism Printing and Publishing Company, which has been subjected to reprisals, including the withdrawal of its licence and the closing of its premises for political reasons.

Between 2 and 7 July, Kuwaiti police forces have made excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators asking for the release of Musallam al Barrak, a leading opposition figure arrested for accusing top judges of implication into a recent corruption scandal. Dozens of peaceful protesters were also arrested and have since been held in arbitrary detention.

Alkarama has submitted its shadow report in view of the Universal Periodic Review of Kuwait, which will take place in March 2015.

On 1 May 2012, Mr Abdulhakim Al Fadhli, a well-known activist for the rights of Bidun (stateless) in Kuwait, was arrested for the third time this year and who is now charged with calling for and participating in demonstrations. Alkarama strongly condemns the persecution of Mr Al Fadhli which clearly violates his right to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly and is solely based on his commitment to the cause for equal rights of the Bidun in Kuwait.

Civil society has the opportunity to provide information on the human rights situation in Kuwait when the country is examined by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) in October 2011. The Committee will review whether Kuwait is respecting the civil and political rights of its citizens.

Abdul Aziz Al-Shammari, 37 and a Kuwaiti citizen married with two children, is a former Guantanamo Bay detainee. He was repatriated to Kuwait on 3 November 2005, after which he was put on trial, acquitted by the Kuwaiti Criminal Court, and released in 2006.

Abd Al-Aziz Sayir Al-Shamri is currently being harassed by Kuwaiti authorities, due to his previous imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay. He was handed over to the American forces by the Pakistani authorities during the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, and subsequently transferred to Guantanamo Bay prison.