Articles for Kuwait

On 19 November 2015, Alkarama sent two communications, one to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (SRT) and one to the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances (WGEID), regarding the case of 20-year-old Egyptian student

On 23 October 2015, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (SRT) regarding the case of 20-year-old Egyptian student Omar Abdulrahman Ahmed Youssef Mabrouk, who disappeared after his arrest by State Security forces in Kuwait City in early October 2015.

On 5 August 2015, Alkarama sent its Submission to the List of Issues on the situation of civil and political rights in Kuwait to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRCtee) in view of the country's third review by the Committee during its 118th session in June/July 2016.

On 6 July 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 Al Watan TV, which has been subjected to reprisals, including the withdrawal of its licence and the closing of its premises for political reasons.

During its 29th session on 26 June 2015, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted the outcome of Kuwait's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – a process aimed at assessing the human rights record of each UN Member State every four years – for which Alkarama had submitted a shadow report in June 2014.

"In the name of the nation, in the name of the people, we will not allow you, your highness, to take Kuwait to the abyss of autocracy." These are the words for which Mussalam Al Barrak, a former Member of Parliament and prominent human rights defender in Kuwait, was detained arbitrarily. He is now serving a two-year sentence for "insult to the Emir".

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.

 
Today, Alkarama provided the Human Rights Committee with follow up information [link to report] about Kuwait's implementation of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This was in view of the Committee's 108th session,scheduled for 8-26 July 2013.