KUWAIT: The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said Thursday that the Kuwaiti authorities must immediately release journalist and writer Mohammad Abdul Qader Jassim, who has been held for more than a week on an opinion case. He is accused of insulting the Prince and publishing false news that would “undermine state prestige against the background of some of his published articles and books.” The country's public prosecutor referred to SSI interpretations of those publications, before issuing a detention order of 21 days pending investigation, the pan-Arab rights group based in Cairo said. The journalist and writer received a telephone call from the Attorney General informing him that there is an arrest warrant for him and that he would better go for investigation instead of being arrested at his home, ANHRI said. Jassim headed to the Attorney General where he was arrested and has been held since. He then started a hunger strike May 11 and was hospitalized before being transferred to the central prison where he is currently being held. Jassim, expecting his detention, wrote an article on his personal website Nassiha, or “tip of advice,” http://aljasem.org/default.asp?opt=2&art_id=341 where he narrated over the experience where he received telephone calls advising him to leave the country before being arrested. “Jassim refused to be pressured to leave his homeland, whatever the consequences,” ANHRI said Jassim has repeatedly said. In his article, Jassim advised Kuwaiti security not to encroach on prosecution and judiciary authorities as “they only have the right to sentencing.” The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information expressed “outrage over [the] persecution and abuse of the journalist Mohamed Abdel Qader Jassim and his arbitrary detention for questioning on his critical views aiming to leverage democracy and freedom.” The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information added that “pre-trial detention of Jassim and the Attorney General rejection of his release request, show the official determination to punish an author exposing corruption. The detention decision is an invitation to the Kuwaiti government to lift its name from the list of states that respect freedom of expression, even in a relative sense.” BM/ANHRI
