More than 1,000 people have been arrested in the Gulf countries since February 28, 2026. This is the alarming finding of our latest investigation. Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates… vast campaign of repression against the sharing and dissemination of information linked to the war in the Middle East is at work. We denounce a serious violation of international law.Â
The Gulf countries, havens of peace and stability… To preserve their image of heavenly places, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia are ready to do anything. In the name of the fight against propaganda and national security, a There has been strict control over the dissemination and sharing of information since the start of the conflict in the Middle East on February 28, 2026.
Sharing images of missile interceptions, expressing solidarity with the Iranian people, paying tribute to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are all “crimes” subject to legal prosecution. As a result, more than 1,000 people have been arrested since the start of the conflict. Some receive extremely heavy sentences, up to 10 years in prison.
We analyzed the official declarations of the authorities of the Gulf countries, reviewed the cases reported by the media and foreign embassies, and interviewed sixteen people who gave us their testimony. The conclusions of our investigation are unanimous…: it is censorship of the war organized on a large scale which has been put in place in the Gulf countries in recent months.
We denounce this control over information which contributes to a climate of confusion, complicates the identification of the damage caused by the current conflict and prevents citizens from accessing reliable information.
How did we investigate…Â
Amnesty International spoke to 16 people, including a journalist, community activists, citizens and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as relatives of those detained. For security reasons and for fear of reprisals, most wished to remain anonymous.
In addition, we reviewed official statements from GCC authorities, including general warnings and announcements of hundreds of arrests related to freedom of expression. We also reviewed cases reported by local media and foreign embassies, as well as those documented by local human rights organizations.
In the name of national securitycensorship and abusive laws
« No one talks openly about what’s happening or what they’re feeling. We cannot know what people think of these restrictions, due to the climate of mistrust which adds to the fear of strikes. »Â
Under condition of anonymity, this journalist based in Riyadh testifies. In Saudi Arabia, official restrictions significantly hamper the ability to identify witnesses and gather information. Control and censorship by the authorities is omnipresent, particularly on social networks. In April 2026, access to 144 accounts and pages on social networks was thus restricted or even prevented, reports Meta, on the basis of a law relating to cybercrime. Â
The same dynamic is at work in the rest of the Gulf countries. In the United Arab Emirates, there are 18 Facebook and Instagram accounts whose access was restricted on the grounds that they constituted a risk for national security. In the country, photograph, publish and distribute content. “ unconfirmed ” by the authorities has been strictly prohibited since March 3.
In order to preserve their beautiful image of safe places, the Gulf States are resorting to their usual authoritarianism to control information and exploiting provisions formulated in vague and general terms from the laws on cybercrime, the fight against terrorism and national security. This goes well beyond what international law provides. 
Heba Morayef, director of Amnesty International’s North Africa and Middle East regional programme.
The 1is In March, the Bahraini authorities also warned against the publication or dissemination of rumors, information or news  not emanating from the official authorities of the Kingdom“In Qatar, the same warning was issued on February 28, instructing the population to refrain from giving credence to rumors, relaying unverified videos or sharing sensitive content.
In Kuwait, a series of extremely coercive measures was put in place in the name of the “fight against terrorism” and “national security”. Since March 15 last, broadcast from  false rumors ” on military structures is now punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Acts described as “terrorist” are now punishable by the death penalty, although they are not precisely qualified.
What does international law say?Â
While Gulf states can take steps to combat disinformation and protect national security, and derogate from certain rights in the event of armed conflict, any restrictions on freedom of expression must meet strict international human rights standards.
These exemptions must be provided for clearly and precisely by law, pursue a legitimate aim, and be strictly necessary and proportionate. Blanket restrictions and widespread criminalization of information sharing do not meet these criteria.
Mass arrestsÂ
Direct consequence of these extremely restrictive and coercive measures: the arrest of more than a thousand people across all the Gulf countries.
In the United Arab Emirates, at least 375 people were arrested and detained between March 3 and April 8. On March 20, 109 nationals from different countries were arrested for filming locations and disseminating information deemed “false” on social networks.
What does international law say?Â
Filming an area affected by an airstrike and broadcasting videos, reports or opinions related to a conflict is generally protected by the right to freedom of expression and cannot constitute grounds for arrest or criminal prosecution. An arrest or prosecution for this type of activity must respect the principles of legality, legitimate aim, necessity and proportionality.
In Qatar, 313 nationals from different countries were arrested between February 28 and March 9. They too are accused of having filmed and broadcast information deemed “misleading” or likely to “agitate public opinion”. In Saudi Arabia, at least three foreigners have been detained over war-related online posts.
Finally, in Bahrain, 303 people had been arrested as of May 5. These arrests followed demonstrations organized in tribute to the former Supreme Guide and Commander-in-Chief of Iran, Ali Khamenei. At least 38 people were released. According to our information, the number of arrests could be much higher.
mansour yassin, stops for a drawing
A 26-year-old artist, Mansour Yassin is one of the hundreds of people arrested in Bahrain since the start of the conflict in the Middle East. At issue: an illustration representing the hand of former Iranian Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei. Alongside five people, he is accused of having “expressed sympathy” and “glorified the hostile acts” of Iran. Detained for about a month, Mansour was eventually released into custody. freedom. Â
10 years in prisonÂ
In Kuwait and Bahrain, these mass arrests resulted in extremely harsh sentences.
On April 23, and May 1 and 7, a state security court of first instance in Kuwait, set up at the beginning of April, handed down judgments against 204 defendants. All are accused of having expressed sympathy for “Iranian aggression”, “inciting sectarian conflict” and “spreading false information”, according to local media. Most of the accused have Received suspended sentences, some were acquitted. But 23 people were sentenced to three years in prison, one to five years and another to 10 years.
in kuwait, the case of journalist ahmed shihab eldin
Leading journalist Ahmed Shihab Eldin is among the many people arrested by the Kuwaiti authorities. He was arrested on March 3, for the sole reason that he had relayed images linked to the war, posted online by international media.
He was detained for 52 days, then put on trial for spreading false information, endangering national security and misusing his mobile phone. On April 23, he was acquitted on one count and given a suspended sentence for the other two.
In Bahrain, on April 28 and May 12, authorities also announced the sentencing of 34 people to fines and sentences ranging from one to 10 years in prison for having supported and approved “Iran’s terrorist attacks against Kingdom”, “obtained and disseminated prohibited sensitive data”, “photographed places subject to access restrictions” and “disseminated false information and rumors on social networks”.
Déchéance de nationalité Â
Beyond the very heavy penalties, Kuwait and Bahrain have also used deprivation of nationality to repress freedom of expression.
On April 27, the Bahraini authorities stripped 69 people and their families of their nationality for “glorification of criminal and hostile acts by Iran” and “complicity with external parties”. The next day, the Bahraini Parliament adopted a royal decree to modify the law. Objective: to eliminate the re-examination of citizenship issues and prohibit contesting or appealing decisions on forfeiture of nationality.
ali, stripped of his nationality for a video
March 18, 2026. Bahrain. Ali is summoned to the Cybercrime Bureau. At issue: a video, which he relayed on February 28, of an Iranian attack against an American base in Bahrain.
On site, Ali is questioned. He explained to the authorities that he deleted the video three hours after reposting it and quickly re-shared an official press release ordering not to broadcast videos of the attacks.
His cell phone is examined. His testimony is confirmed. His criminal record is clean. He finally signed a document confirming his loyalty to Bahrain and promised not to publish content likely to harm the country, before being released.
But a few weeks later, on April 27, Ali was summoned again by the authorities. The immigration services asked him to hand over his identity card and those of his family members. From one day to the next, their nationality was revoked. Without any concrete reason.
On May 9, Ali and a member of his family were deported to another country. Their new passports, valid for one year, bear the letter “ R ”.  R Â,†which could mean  Revoke .
Same logic in Kuwait. On April 13, the authorities took care to modify their legislation to facilitate the loss of nationality of certain citizens. As of April 26, 2026, 1,200 people had lost their nationality, on the grounds that their actions presented a threat to “national security.” A coercive method, which the country had already resorted to in 2024.
Fawaz Al Kathiri paid the price in July 2025, after the publication of a video questioning Kuwait’s response to Iranian attacks and the arrests in connection with the publication of content on the war. On May 7, it was his father, a Kuwaiti settled in the United Kingdom who was, in turn, stripped of his nationality for criticizing the government.
What does international law say?Â
International human rights law strictly prohibits arbitrary deprivation of nationality, and states cannot deprive individuals or their families of their citizenship to punish them for peacefully expressing political opinions or perceived sympathies. When the authorities claim involvement in hostile or violent acts, the revocation of nationality must nevertheless be based on clear and individualized evidence, respect the regular procedure and satisfy the criteria of legality, legitimate objective, necessity and proportionality.
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