Journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin detained in Kuwait after posting Iran war video, advocates say | CNN Business

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a Kuwaiti-American journalist known for his work at VICE, HuffPost and Al Jazeera, has been detained in Kuwait, according to press freedom advocates, after sharing videos related to the Iran war. The arrest comes as Kuwait and other Gulf states have cracked down on individuals for posting imagery of Iranian missile strikes and other subject matter deemed sensitive. Watchdog groups have decried the strict laws. In Shihab-Eldin’s case, he had been sharing information on his Substack and social media when the war began, but suddenly stopped posting on March 2. He was in Kuwait, visiting family, at the time. Friends believe he has been in custody for nearly six weeks. On Tuesday, they went public about his case with the hope that publicity would help secure his release. “We call on Kuwait to release Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and drop all charges against him,” Sara Qudah, regional director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement. “Journalism is not a crime, and Shihab-Eldin’s case reflects a broader pattern of using national security laws to stifle scrutiny and control the narrative.” The advocacy group also said “it is understood that au