On 25 March 2015, the General Administration of investigations imposed a travel ban on human rights defender Nawaf Al-Hendal, the director of Kuwait Watch.
On 23 March 2015, Al-Hendal was arrested while he was carrying out his work observing violations during a peaceful gathering. He was held at the CID for interrogation and only released on 26 March 2015. Reports confirm that he faces a charge of allegedly participating in an “illegal” demonstration.
For more information see our previous appeal: https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/960
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) views the travel ban as an act of reprisal against human rights defenders in Kuwait who are co-operating with the United Nations system as it comes after the recent speech which Al-Hendal delivered on 20 March 2015 in Geneva during the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council in which he talked about freedom of expression and opinion and the ongoing attacks on human rights defenders and the Internet in Kuwait.
The GCHR expresses its concern at the targeting and the travel ban against Nawaf Al-Hendal, which it believes solely results from his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities to combat human rights violations using the international mechanisms.
GCHR calls on the authorities in Kuwait to:
1. Revoke immediately the travel ban imposed on Nawaf Al-Hendal without any condition and drop all charges against him;
2. Release all prisoners of conscious in Kuwait;
3. Ensure in all circumstances that all human rights defenders and Internet activists in Kuwait are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
The GCHR respectfully reminds the authorities in Kuwait that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 5 (a): “For the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels: (a) To meet or assemble peacefully”, Article 6 (c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters“ and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threat, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”
