Kuwait arrests four Egyptians for ‘misusing’ social media

The Kuwaiti interior ministry announced on Friday that it has arrested four Egyptians for “publishing libellous posts” on social media against Kuwait and calling for a protest in front of the Egyptian embassy, Anadolu has reported.

The ministry said that the four are accused of “misusing social media and publishing posts including insults and defamation against Kuwait, its institutions and its citizens.”

On Thursday, a number of activists published posts calling for protests in front of the Egyptian embassy in Kuwait City after a Kuwaiti citizen ran over and killed an Egyptian and wounded several others, including Kuwaitis, in and around a shopping centre. No one responded.

According to the ministry, these posts are considered to be “incitement to hatred” in the context of the dispute between Kuwaitis and Egyptians at the centre. “This is against law,” the ministry said. “It is against the public order, disabling security, putting lives in danger and undermining private and public interests.”

The statement added that the four suspects were turned over to special departments for investigation. It also warned that anyone “misusing” social media will be held accountable.