Kuwait has arrested a prominent international reporter for doing his job. The Kuwaiti government is threatening to imprison him under a set of new and harsh national security laws.
Journalism is not a crime. Harassing obstructing intimidating arresting silencing journalists for doing their job is a crime. Plus, in times of war a war-crime.
I'm very concerned because of the arrest of journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin. I want to ask you with all due respect for international law, the rule of law and human rights (freedom of speech, press-freedom) in the USA as well as and in your own country Kuwait to do your utmost to have journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin released immediately.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a Palestinian-American journalist whose writing and reports are defined by unparalleled integrity, depth and eloquence, was arrested on March 3 in Kuwait. He is charged with spreading false information and harming national security.
His arrest took place following his reporting of the shooting down of three U.S. fighter planes by the Kuwaiti military in an act of friendly fire during the US-Israel war with Iran. Ahmed, along with other news outlets such as the BBC, published footage of a US F-15 E Strike Eagle crashing in al-Jahra west of Kuwait City.
It is to be feared Ahmed, a graduate of Columbia Journalism School who has worked for The New York Times, PBS Frontline, Al Jazeera English, Vice on HBO, The Huffington Post and appeared on numerous news outlets including the BBC and CNN, will be charged under new, draconian security laws instituted in Kuwait, which have already led to dozens of arbitrary arrests.
Journalism is not a crime. Harassing obstructing intimidating arresting silencing journalists for doing their job is a crime. Plus, in times of war a war-crime. Please set journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin free.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
The current Kuwait Ambassador to the US is Her Excellency Shaikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah. (Mofa)
A direct personal email for the Ambassador is not publicly listed, but you can reach the Embassy of Kuwait in Washington, D.C. through its consular email: consulate@kuwaitembassy.us
Embassy address: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, Phone: (202) 966-0702. (Mofa)
For correspondence intended for the Ambassador specifically, a formal letter sent to the embassy address is the standard diplomatic approach.
Click on the link in the post of Chris Hedges and you get to the website of the embassy of Kuwait in the USA. Look in the header for 'contact'. Click. Y presto. You can send them a mail. Copy-cat that email and send it to all news-papers in the USA you know, especially the NY Times >>> Ahmed Shihab-Eldin is a colleague and it's about their job too. Let's rock the boat and make a tsunami of emails that help to get Ahmed Shihab-Eldin free.
And Americans actually think the Gulf countries are democratic. They are theocratic monarchies and only answer to money. Having been there for two years during Desert Storm, I know how they operate. Money talks, everything else walks. As long as it's financially beneficial for the sheiks of Kuwait to make nice with Trump, they will. As soon as it's no longer beneficial, they'll turn on him in a heart beat and find another benefactor.
People, especially foreigners, have very little rights in these countries. Especially if a foreigner, especially a journalist, does something that might jeopardize the money flow. Case in point, taking pictures with a cell phone of something they think the Americans wouldn't like, therefore jeopardizing the flow of money.
Save your emails and direct them to the Americans. They're the only ones who can get this reporter out of jail. In northern Afghanistan, in the Dari language, we would call this Bakshsis (grease the palms) to get things done. That's how this American journalist will be released. Some American statesman will need to offer some Kuwaiti official some bakshis to get him out.
The (rotten) solution will go like this - Fire that judge; get one that will do as he/she is told. This is the new ⚖ justice system (not really new). Next.
Journalism is not a crime. Harassing obstructing intimidating arresting silencing journalists for doing their job is a crime. Plus, in times of war a war-crime.
Shame on Kuwait. Action now now now now!
Email send to the Kuwait Embassy in USA
Dear Ambassador Sheika Al-Zain Al-Sabah, Excellency,
I'm very concerned because of the arrest of journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin. I want to ask you with all due respect for international law, the rule of law and human rights (freedom of speech, press-freedom) in the USA as well as and in your own country Kuwait to do your utmost to have journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin released immediately.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a Palestinian-American journalist whose writing and reports are defined by unparalleled integrity, depth and eloquence, was arrested on March 3 in Kuwait. He is charged with spreading false information and harming national security.
His arrest took place following his reporting of the shooting down of three U.S. fighter planes by the Kuwaiti military in an act of friendly fire during the US-Israel war with Iran. Ahmed, along with other news outlets such as the BBC, published footage of a US F-15 E Strike Eagle crashing in al-Jahra west of Kuwait City.
It is to be feared Ahmed, a graduate of Columbia Journalism School who has worked for The New York Times, PBS Frontline, Al Jazeera English, Vice on HBO, The Huffington Post and appeared on numerous news outlets including the BBC and CNN, will be charged under new, draconian security laws instituted in Kuwait, which have already led to dozens of arbitrary arrests.
Journalism is not a crime. Harassing obstructing intimidating arresting silencing journalists for doing their job is a crime. Plus, in times of war a war-crime. Please set journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin free.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Kind regards,
Claire Schut
Email address?
The current Kuwait Ambassador to the US is Her Excellency Shaikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah. (Mofa)
A direct personal email for the Ambassador is not publicly listed, but you can reach the Embassy of Kuwait in Washington, D.C. through its consular email: consulate@kuwaitembassy.us
Embassy address: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, Phone: (202) 966-0702. (Mofa)
For correspondence intended for the Ambassador specifically, a formal letter sent to the embassy address is the standard diplomatic approach.
Well, I sent an email to the link provided in the article, where it assuredly will get circular filed.
Click on the link in the post of Chris Hedges and you get to the website of the embassy of Kuwait in the USA. Look in the header for 'contact'. Click. Y presto. You can send them a mail. Copy-cat that email and send it to all news-papers in the USA you know, especially the NY Times >>> Ahmed Shihab-Eldin is a colleague and it's about their job too. Let's rock the boat and make a tsunami of emails that help to get Ahmed Shihab-Eldin free.
I sent =them an email for them to ignore.
You are great.
And Americans actually think the Gulf countries are democratic. They are theocratic monarchies and only answer to money. Having been there for two years during Desert Storm, I know how they operate. Money talks, everything else walks. As long as it's financially beneficial for the sheiks of Kuwait to make nice with Trump, they will. As soon as it's no longer beneficial, they'll turn on him in a heart beat and find another benefactor.
People, especially foreigners, have very little rights in these countries. Especially if a foreigner, especially a journalist, does something that might jeopardize the money flow. Case in point, taking pictures with a cell phone of something they think the Americans wouldn't like, therefore jeopardizing the flow of money.
Save your emails and direct them to the Americans. They're the only ones who can get this reporter out of jail. In northern Afghanistan, in the Dari language, we would call this Bakshsis (grease the palms) to get things done. That's how this American journalist will be released. Some American statesman will need to offer some Kuwaiti official some bakshis to get him out.
Contacted the embassy. Thanks for the alert. Kate Bradley
Done.
Will we ever have International Relations and Journalism respected again?
I assume your question is rhetorical.
Who will make them do so?
You. You are free to copy-cat (and improve) the text of my email to the Kuwait embassy in USA.
Unless you have carrot they want or stick they fear, they'll ignore you.
Moral arguments are wasted on sociopaths. You'd think humans would learn this, dealing with utterly unresponsive western governments.
The easy way out is so boring. Give it a try. You might enjoy it.
Has nothing to do with "Easy" or hard. What matters are results. Results are, in fact, all that matter.
Call Made for Ahmed release to the Kuwaiti embassy
KuwaIt is determined to go down with the American Empire.
he's trying to perform his journalist job as a great war correspondent. with dignity and truthfulness. He should never be arrested. This is terrible.
So many journalists and correspondence of war and press members have been murdered almost always by Israel, even if in a roundabout way
this will have to be addressed and dealt with eventually.
I hope and pray
I hope and pray with you.
Did you call the Kuwaiti embassy / send them an email?
Each drop of water helps to hollow out the rock.
The (rotten) solution will go like this - Fire that judge; get one that will do as he/she is told. This is the new ⚖ justice system (not really new). Next.
Why is this important post not seen and shared more often?
Embassy email sent!
Thank you.