Over 1,000 arrested as Gulf states crush public reaction to Iran attacks

Authorities across the Gulf have arrested more than 1,000 people in a sweeping crackdown on expression linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran and Iranian attacks on Gulf states, Amnesty International said, warning that governments are using national security claims to silence information-sharing and peaceful political views.

The rights group said authorities in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman issued broad warnings against sharing online content deemed to spread “rumours” or “false information” about the war. The crackdown has included arrests for filming missile interceptions, sharing footage of damage caused by projectiles, reposting content related to the conflict or expressing sympathy with Iran or the Iranian people.

The most egregious cases were reported in Kuwait and Bahrain, where authorities are said to have stripped people of their nationality. Amnesty said Bahrain revoked the nationality of 69 people and their families after accusing them of expressing sympathy for and glorifying “the criminal hostile acts of Iran” or engaging in “collusion with external parties.” Kuwait, meanwhile, stripped more than 1,200 people of their nationality by decree, without giving reasons.

READ: Bahrain king orders more citizenship revocations over ‘support’ for Iran attacks

“In a bid to protect their glossy image as safe havens, Gulf states have used their usual heavy-handed authoritarian approach to control information and weaponised vaguely worded and overly broad provisions of cybercrime, counter-terror and national security laws,” Morayef added. “This goes far beyond what is permitted under international law.”

In Bahrain, Amnesty documented the case of a man identified as Ali, who was stripped of his nationality along with a family member despite never being formally charged with a crime. Ali was summoned by phone to the Cybercrime Police Directorate on 18 March after reposting a video on 28 February showing an Iranian attack on a US base in Bahrain. He told officers that he had deleted the video around three hours later and had then reposted a Ministry of Interior warning against sharing footage of the attacks. 

Officers examined Ali’s phone, confirmed his account, told him there had been a misunderstanding and, because his criminal record was clean, asked him only to sign a pledge affirming loyalty to Bahrain and promising not to publish content that could harm the country. Weeks later, on 27 April, the Bahraini Immigration Authority summoned him and ordered him to surrender his and his family member’s national identity cards, informing him that their nationality had been revoked. When he asked why, officials told him the revocation was a “sovereign decision” and that they were “just following orders.” 

On 9 May, Bahraini authorities removed Ali and his family member to another country after issuing them one-year passports marked with the letter “R”, which may stand for “revoked”.”

Bahraini authorities also announced the arrest of 47 people between 1 and 14 March, including six foreign nationals, for online content related to Iranian attacks. However, documentation shared with Amnesty by Bahraini rights groups suggests the actual number is far higher, with more than 303 people arrested as of 5 May. At least 34 people were sentenced to fines and prison terms of between one and 10 years for charges including supporting Iran’s attacks, spreading false news and photographing restricted locations.

In Kuwait, authorities announced the arrest of 33 people between 1 and 30 March, including at least three women and one foreign national. Those detained were accused of offences including sharing videos deemed harmful to national security, “mocking security agencies,” spreading false information, using drones without authorisation and posting content sympathising with “terrorist groups.”

READ: Kuwait revokes citizenship of 9,464 individuals

The scale of prosecutions in Kuwait appears much larger than the arrest figures announced by the government. Amnesty said a state security court issued rulings against 204 defendants in April and May on charges including expressing sympathy with “the Iranian aggression,” “inciting sectarian strife” and “disseminating false news.” Twenty-three people were sentenced to three years in prison, one to five years and another to 10 years.

Prominent journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin was among those arrested. Amnesty said he was detained by plain-clothes officers without a warrant on 3 March after reposting images related to the war that had already been published by international media organisations. He was held for 52 days and tried on charges of spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone. He was later acquitted of one charge, while punishment was suspended on two others.

Kuwait has also introduced sweeping new laws expanding state powers under the banner of counter-terrorism and national security. Amnesty highlighted legislation criminalising “false rumours” related to military entities with prison terms of up to 10 years, as well as amendments allowing the authorities to strip nationality from individuals if the “supreme interests of the state” or its external security require it.