Cairo 12 June 2011

ANHRI has condemned today the detention of the blogger Nasser Abul on Wednesday 8 June 2011 by the Kuwaiti security forces for his criticism of the royal families in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Twitter for short blog.

The blogger Nasser Abul, 26 years old, was detained on Wednesday 8 June 2011 by Kuwaiti state security forces for criticizing Al Saud and Al Khalifa royal families in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain over the suppression of the demonstrations in Bahrain on his personal account on Twitter for short blog. Kuwaiti authorities accused Nasser Abul of insulting a friend country which may damage ties with it, offending the prince, and exposing national unity to danger. Nasser Abul is accused of these charges without being placed on formal investigation till the moment.

Kuwaiti printing, audio-visual and electronic publishing laws include various articles that easily convict any person offending the Prince and the national security, and publishing any materials that may harm the strong ties between Kuwait and its neighbor or friend countries. Some articles convict also any person offending the Gulf countries leaders, which means that Nasser Abul could be convicted.

ANHRI said “It is unacceptable and shameful to detain a young blogger for criticizing the Arab leaders who conspire on suppressing the peaceful demonstrations which call for reform and democracy. Arab leaders should rather try the killers of armless civilians who are practicing their legal right in expression of opinion.”

Saudi and Bahraini governments are on top of list of enemy countries to freedom of internet, furthermore they recruit people to spy on internet activists and foil the dialogues held between them using the same policy the toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak was following.

ANHRI added “Kuwaiti authorities should release the young blogger Nasser Abul and review the printing and publishing laws emphasizing that freedom of opinion and expression is a genuine human right that suppressive measures and detention could not deter and that Kuwait being a member in the International Council for Human Rights is bound to be a model of countries respecting human rights and not the opposite.”