Reliable local sources confirmed to the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) that prominent human rights defender Anwar Al-Rasheed has been arrested for a tweet he posted.
On the evening of 26 August 2024, security forces arrested him. Upon his arrest, his colleagues and civil society organisations in addition to citizens declared their solidarity with him and called for his immediate release using the hashtag: #Freedom_for_Anwar_Al-Rasheed
Al-Rasheed had posted the following tweet on his X account on 26 August 2024, which is believed to be the reason for his arrest: “It is said, and God knows best, that a ruler wanted to form a government, so they presented him with the name of an honorable person from his country, so he asked who this is? They told him this is a clean person, so he said to them, no, no, it is useless, dirty him and bring him.”
Lawyer Hani Hussain confirmed on his X account in a tweet that, “The investigation with him has been completed.” In a second tweet that directly followed, he confirmed, “Al-Rasheed will continue to be detained in the State Security Apparatus building, and will be presented to the Public Prosecution tomorrow.” But he returned in a third tweet to announce his release by the State Security Apparatus. Some local sources confirmed to GCHR that he has been asked to sign a pledge before his release.
Anwar Al-Rasheed has been an active contributor to the Kuwaiti human rights movement, and has been highly effective in monitoring all violations against the civil and human rights of citizens, including the Bedoon community in Kuwait. He has consistently contributed to the sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), during which he spoke about the human rights situation in the country and the need for peaceful change to protect these rights.
He uses his X account, which is topped by the following, “I love freedom and hate injustice, and my goal is to establish human rights as a civilized value,” to publish his personal views and promote human rights in Kuwait and abroad.
GCHR declares its full solidarity with prominent human rights defender Anwar Al-Rasheed, and calls on the government in Kuwait not to target him in the future. Officials should celebrate his achievements in the field of human rights, not arrest him for his peaceful and civilized expression of his opinions.
The authorities in Kuwait must respect public freedoms, including freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the right to peaceful assembly; and ensure that human rights defenders, including journalists, bloggers, academics and online activists, are able to carry out their legitimate work and express themselves freely without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment.
