Gulf States Arrest 1,000+ Over War-Related Expression Amid Crackdown
Over 1,000 arrested in Gulf states for wartime expression related to recent US-Israeli-Iran conflict.
Why it matters: The crackdown marks a sharp rise in legal restrictions on speech, affecting human rights and freedom of expression in the Gulf. It signals deepening tensions with international norms on civil liberties during conflicts.
- More than 1,000 individuals arrested across GCC states for sharing war-related online content.
- Kuwait and Bahrain stripped some citizens of nationality tied to conflict expression.
- Criminal courts in Kuwait and Bahrain issued prison terms of 3 to 10 years after rushed trials.
- US-Kuwaiti journalist detained 52 days and stripped of citizenship; Bahraini photographer sentenced 10 years.
Authorities in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have intensified a crackdown on expression related to the recent conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. According to Amnesty International, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested for sharing online content or expressing views associated with the conflict.
The crackdown spans Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, where authorities publicly announced hundreds of arrests tied to videos documenting missile interceptions and damage caused by projectiles. In Kuwait and Bahrain, courts have imposed prison sentences ranging from three to ten years on dozens of individuals following hastily scheduled trials. Some citizens have also been stripped of nationality, marking a severe punitive measure against dissent.
Among notable cases, US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin was detained for 52 days in Kuwait and had his citizenship revoked, along with that of his two sisters, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists. In Bahrain, photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel was sentenced to 10 years for documenting the conflict.
Heba Morayef, Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, stated, "While Gulf states may take measures to address misinformation and protect national security, and may derogate from certain rights during armed conflict, any restriction on freedom of expression must meet strict international human rights standards." She also criticized the Gulf states for employing broad and vague laws around cybercrime and national security to suppress information, describing it as a heavy-handed authoritarian approach to control information and maintain a "glossy image".
This surge in repression highlights increasing tensions between national security claims and international human rights obligations related to freedom of expression in conflict settings. It raises pressing concerns for legal professionals monitoring international law and human rights in the Gulf and broader region.
By the numbers:
- 1,000+ arrests — across GCC states for war-related expression.
- 3 to 10 years — prison sentences handed down in Kuwait and Bahrain.
- 52 days detained — US-Kuwaiti journalist held and citizenship revoked.
Yes, but: Details on the legal evidence used against the arrested individuals and the exact count of nationality revocations remain undisclosed.