The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) welcomes the release of human rights defender Abdulla Fairouz on bail on 14 April 2013 following his arrest five days earlier on charges of insulting the judiciary on social media. Abdullah Fairouz is Secretary General of the Kuwaiti Movement for Justice and Development (NEBRAS) and member of the Bedoon Committee at the Kuwait Society for Human Rights.

On 14 April 2013, the Public Prosecutor released Abdullah Fairouz on bail of 200 dinars (approximately €535). He is reportedly planning to participate in a human rights workshop following his release. He had been detained on 9 April 2013 at the Criminal Investigation Department, by order from the Public Prosecutor which includes ten days of detention, pending interrogation on charges of insulting the judiciary using social media. During his detention his colleague, a member of the Kuwait Society of Human Rights, Mohammed Al-Hamidi was prohibited from visiting him.

His detention was reportedly based on postings he made on his Twitter account and blog posts which criticised a judge for handing down sentences in absentia, against defendants who had not been notified of the hearing and for advocating for the introduction of a law to allow for complaints to be made against the judiciary. At the time of his arrest, he was also in the process of making a complaint at the Court of Ministers against Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, former minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahd and the Board of Directors of the Investment Authority.

The GCHR, while welcoming the release on bail of the human rights defender, expresses concern at his arrest and detention, which it believes are directly related to his legitimate and peaceful human rights work. Furthermore the GCHR expresses concern at the on-going harassment of human rights defenders and those advocating for the promotion of the rights of the Bedoon community in Kuwait.

The GCHR urges the authorities in Kuwait to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Abdullah Fairouz;
2. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Abdullah Fairouz;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders 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 you 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 (b) which states that: “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: (b) To form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups;” 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, which provides that “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, threats, 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.”