Concerns have been raised over the safety of an American-Kuwaiti journalist after he was detained in Kuwait shortly after posting a video related to the ongoing war in Iran.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a journalist and media personality who has previously written for the New York Times, HuffPost and Vice, has not been seen in public or posted online since 2 March, according to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists.
The press freedom group believes Eldin’s arrest could be linked to footage he posted online while visiting family in Kuwait, according to the CPJ.
One of his last posts included a CNN-verified geolocated video showing a US fighter jet crash near an American air base in Kuwait. Eldin is also reported to have commented on public videos and images related to the Iran war.
He was described as “one of the most gentle souls” and “a journalist of rare strength, unwavering integrity, and deep compassion” by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese in a statement on Wednesday.
After the Iran war broke out, Kuwait’s ministry of the interior warned the public against filming or publishing videos or information related to the attacks and said several people had been arrested for spreading “false news”. Individuals accused of violating media laws have also been referred to authorities after being accused of violating media laws.
“It is understood that authorities have charged him with spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone – vague and overly broad accusations that are routinely used to silence independent journalists,” read the CPJ statement.
Friends of Eldin made the decision to go public this week in an effort to secure his release, according to CNN.
“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 released on Wednesday.
“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.”
Eldin is known for his journalism as well as his social media profile where he has more than two million followers. His Instagram profile appears to have since been deleted or deactivated. The media personality is also an actor and starred in the 2025 film Palestine 36.
He is the recipient of multiple Amnesty awards, including the 2023 Amnesty International UK Media Award in Digital Creativity for his documentary Queer Egypt Under Attack.
In 2025 he shared the Amnesty International Human Rights Defenders Award with Emmy-winning journalist Bisan Owda, Plestia Alaqad, and Anas Al-Sharif . Al-Sharif was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in August 2025.
The Independent has contacted Eldin’s team and the Kuwait government for comment.
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