On August 18, state security officers arrested Bashar al-Sayegh, an editor for the daily Al-Jarida, in Kuwait City, his lawyer said. Jassim al-Qames, another editor at the paper, told CPJ he photographed the arrest, prompting the officers to detain and beat him. Al-Qames was released the following day without charge. The prosecutor's office accused al-Sayegh of insulting the emir of Kuwait, which violates both the penal code and the press law and carries a five-year prison sentence. The accusation stemmed from a comment made in an open forum on the Al-Ommah news Web site hosted by al-Sayegh. Web site administrators removed the comment several hours after it was made. The person who posted the comment was arrested on August 21.

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