URGENT ACTION

KUWAITI JOURNALIST FREED

Amnesty International has learnt that Kuwaiti journalist Muhammad ‘Abd al-Qader al-Jasem was released on bail on 4 December 2009, 12 days after being detained. He had been held at the Interior Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Department in the Kuwaiti capital, Kuwait City, after criticizing the Kuwaiti Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Al Sabah, during a private meeting in October 2009.

Muhammad ‘Abd al-Qader al-Jasem was initiallysummoned to a police station in Kuwait City on 22 November, where he refused to answerquestions as he was not informed of the reasons of his summons.On the same day,he was sent to the Interior Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Department where he again refused to answer questions as the grounds for his arrest had not been made clear.

Muhammad ‘Abd al-Qader al-Jasem had previously criticized the Prime Minister and government. It is not known whether he has been formally charged following his detention in November and December 2009.

No further action is called for from the Urgent Action network. Many thanks to those who sent appeals.

This is the first update of UA: 316/09 (MDE 17/002/2009). Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE17/002/2009/en

Further information on UA: 316/09 Index: MDE 17/002/2010 Issue Date: 10 February 2010