Mohammed Al-Barghash, a human rights activist in Kuwait who peacefully and tirelessly defends the rights of the Bedoon community, was arrested by the State Security Apparatus for investigation regarding his peaceful human rights activities.
On 03 September 2023 in the evening, a number of members of the Kuwaiti State Security Apparatus traveling in several cars arrested Al-Bargash in an inhumane manner from his workplace in the Jahra Governorate after closing the road leading to it, without giving him an opportunity to close his shop or lock his personal car. They were carrying an arrest warrant issued by the Public Prosecution, where he was detained pending investigation in the Central Prison. Some press reports indicated that four charges allegedly related to state security were brought against him.
Reliable local reports confirmed that the reason for his arrest was his peaceful activities on social media, including using his Twitter account, which has a banner stating: “Our message must be clear, we will no longer accept being ignored.” He defends his civil and human rights as a Bedoon citizen and the rights of his fellow members of the Bedouin community in Kuwait, most importantly their legitimate right to obtain Kuwaiti citizenship.
Mohammad Al-Barghash belongs to the Bedoon community in Kuwait. He founded the National Bloc of Kuwaiti Bedoons, which he also heads, and which has organised a number of events to shed light on the chronic problems that the Bedoon community suffers from and demand radical solutions to them.
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) previously documented his summoning for investigation by the State Security Apparatus on 26 July 2021, regarding his peaceful human rights activities, in addition to his arrest for a brief period of time on 07 February 2022.
GCHR declares its full solidarity with human rights activist Mohammed Al-Barghash, and calls on the State Security Service to respect the civil and human rights of citizens, most importantly freedom of expression.
In a separate case, on 31 August 2023, human rights activist Fadel Farhan Saket (Abu Turki), who also defends the rights of the Bedouin community in Kuwait, was released on bail of 200 Kuwaiti dinars.
GCHR documented the arrest of Abu Turki on 10 August 2023, in connection with his peaceful activity on the Internet and his defense of human rights.
GCHR welcomes the release of human rights defender Fadel Farhan Saket (Abu Turki), and calls on the authorities in Kuwait to stop targeting him.
GCHR calls on the Kuwaiti authorities to:
- Protect public freedoms, especially freedom of expression online and offline, as well as the freedom to demonstrate peacefully, and immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Mohammed Al-Barghash and stop targeting him; and
- Ensure in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Kuwait can carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisal or restrictions, including judicial harassment.
