AL-ARABIYA REPORTER ACQUITTED OF HARMING NATIONAL

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002335

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO KU
SUBJECT: AL-ARABIYA REPORTER ACQUITTED OF HARMING NATIONAL
INTEREST


1. (U) A criminal court acquitted Kuwaiti correspondent Adel
Eidan on May 21 of charges he had harmed the national
interest. Eidan, a reporter for the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya
satellite television network, was detained on January 4 and
charged with "spreading false news that harmed national
interests" after the network aired reports, later retracted,
of an alleged gunfight between Islamic radicals and security
forces.


2. (U) Eidan, who had been free on bail and working since
January 8, told Agence France Press (AFP) on May 28 that he
felt "the court has treated me fairly and cleared my name and
credibility as a journalist." Eidan's four day January
detention had provoked dismay and anger from local and
international journalists, who protested the move as
illegitimate and had called for his release.
LEBARON