Kuwait has always advertised itself as a more liberal Gulf state. However, current events provided a much more alarming picture of how state power is tightening its control over political speech and religious life, leaving little space for individuality, dissent, or fundamental liberties.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs released a statement that prohibits imams, muezzins, and preachers from taking time off during the holy month. The government used the necessity for continuous mouse services and rising religious demand as justification for the decision. The directive exposes a more profound pattern of control, even if it is presented as an administrative action. The state exercises control over the time, movement, and personal circumstances of religious workers by limiting leave, imposing tight permission procedures, and prohibiting substitute personnel from taking time off. Ramadan, a time of introspection and empathy, turns into another occasion when power and success overrule personal decency.
A far harsher restriction on political expression is mirrored in this growing control over religious life. In a dramatic case, a Kuwaiti criminal court ordered the deportation of vocal activist Salman al-Khalidi and sentenced him to 15 years in jail. His look was his crime. Due to his social media posts criticizing the Emir, the ruling family, and local politics, the court found him guilty on state security charges. The accusation, which included “ insulting the Emir,” “disrespecting state institutions,” and “committing a hostile act against a sister nation,” is overly general, ambiguous, and risky, according to The New Arab.
The court explicitly declared that freedom of expression “must have limits.” In practice, this ruling strips free speech of all meaning. By equating criticism with agreement and opinion with political danger, the state criminalizes dissent itself. Al-Khalidi’s activism, which includes supporting Palestinian rights, denouncing regional tyranny, and denouncing Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, is clearly protected by international human rights law as peaceful political speech.
Al-Khalidi’s persecution extends beyond Kuwait’s borders. After being barred from Saudi Arabia and later receiving political asylum in the United Kingdom, he continued to speak out. In January 2025, Iraqi authorities extradited him to Kuwait, triggering outrage and raising serious questions about Iraq’s respect for non-refoulement, a concern of intentional refugee protection. His forced return demonstrates how regional governments increasingly cooperate to silence critics, even when intentional protections should apply.
When combined, these events reveal that Kuwait’s civic space is getting smaller. The state punishes rather than just regulates. Under the pretense of efficiency, it punishes religious workers, and under the pretence of security, it condemns activism. The same reasoning underlies both acts: control over freedom, quit over involvement, and obedience over rights.
Kuwait’s governments cannot legitimately claim to uphold the right to free speech while punishing critics with harsh penalties. During the holiest month of Islam, they cannot claim to honor Islamic principles while denying fundamental labor rights. These policies undermine legitimacy, increase fear, and destroy trust rather than strengthening society.
The world community cannot turn a blind eye. Human rights groups, UN agencies, and Kuwait’s friends ought to call for Salman al-Khalidi’s prompt release, an end to the prosecution of free expression, and a review of laws that violate fundamental liberties. Instead of serving as another reminder of how authority silences voices, Ramadan ought to be a time of justice and charity.
