Kuwait
Kuwait is experiencing slight growth by being ranked 154 out of 180 countries according to the 2023 World Press Freedom Index (WPFI), published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). In 2022 it was ranked 4 places lower.
Kuwait is an oil-rich country, nestled in a strategic location between Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. It stands out from the other Gulf monarchies for having the most open political system. Moreover, it is one of the world’s richest countries per capita. The nation is among the 30 least favorable media environments in the world, which suggests that strict limits are imposed on media freedom.
WPFI is a yearly ranking of 180 nations and regions created by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which is a non-governmental organization (NGO). Based on assessments of pluralism, media autonomy, the effectiveness of the judiciary, and reporter safety in every country and region, it provides an overview of the state of press independence.
Even though Kuwait is considered to be the least oppressive country in the Gulf, news and information are heavily controlled by the government of Emir Nawaf Al-Sabah, according to RSF. Additionally, BBC Country Profiles states that there are punishments if journalists criticize the Emir or the government.
The introduction of the Cyber Crimes law no. 63 from 2016, which the National Assembly of Kuwait approved, is distressing (particularly articles 4, 6, and 7). Those articles from the law threaten the freedom of expression on the Internet and target online activists, including bloggers and citizen journalists, according to the London-based organization Article 19. Although Kuwait is not known for murdering or imprisoning its journalists, RSF reveals that some have been forced to flee the country to avoid serving prison sentences.
2020 Country Reports on Human Rights, issued annually by the U.S. State Department, claims that local activists and journalists were often approached by the Ministry of Information authorities if they were publishing views and articles that were contradictory to the government’s perspectives. Examples include two Egyptian citizens who used social media to express their dissatisfaction with the poor measures that the Kuwait government took to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Freedom House says that 90 news websites had their licenses terminated by the government in June of 2022, whereas 73 news agencies had their cases forwarded to state prosecutors for suspected legal violations, including publishing false information. Moreover, the website explains that due to political and moral grounds, thousands of books have been prohibited in the nation, as this is yet another proof of the restrictions under which Kuwait journalists need to work.
It is also challenging and rare for the press to tackle migrant worker rights, women’s rights, and corruption, because those subjects are considered to be taboo in the country. Manshoor, one of the few independent media outlets, is trying its best to shed light on such issues, despite being on the border of crossing the line, according to France 24. In this year’s September interview for the French media, Manshoor’s lead editor, Mohammad Almutawa, pointed out the outlet’s aim of maintaining impartiality and objectivity, while dealing with the unsolved problem of shrinking press freedom.
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Raya Zasheva is a sophomore who is double-majoring in Business Administration and Journalism and Mass Communication at the American University in Bulgaria. This is her first time writing about Kuwait and its media restrictions.
