Kuwait arrests man for profanity-filled online videos

Salem Abdulla Ishtail al-Doussari was accused of making 'vulgar remarks' against the country's ruling emir and regional leaders

Kuwait City's banking complex is decorated with lights in the colours of the national flag on 24 February, 2009 (YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images))

A man has been arrested after profanity-filled videos were found on his Snapchat.

Salem Abdulla Ishtail al-Doussari, a Kuwaiti man in his early 40s, was accused of making "vulgar remarks" against the country's ruling emir and regional leaders, as well as "slurs targeting a religious sect", a statement on the state-run Kuwait News Agency said.

Mr al-Doussari came to the attention of the Kuwaitis via mobile-messaging app Snapchat.

He was arrested as he flew into Kuwait from London.

Under the Gulf country's constitution, the emir is "immune and inviolable" and cannot be criticised.

Human Rights Watch says Kuwait has put at least 18 people on trial since 2012 for "offending" the ruler.

According to the campaign group: "Kuwait’s government aggressively cracks down on free speech, using provisions in the constitution, the national security law, and other legislation to stifle political dissent, as well as passing new legislation criminalizing or increasing penalties for various forms and means of expression.

The Gulf state introduced a law to regulate social media in 2014. Human rights activists claim the Unified Media Law restricts freedom of expression.

Human Rights Watch warned Article 70 of the law allows Kuwait to imprison people using "any means of communication to threaten, insult... or harm the reputation of others" for up to two years, and fine people over $17,700.