Gulf states arrested over 1,000 for Iran war social media posts: Amnesty

Since the start of the war in the Middle East, the Gulf States have severely restricted their rules on freedom of speech, sometimes punishing citizens for publishing videos and content related to the war. Here, people film the Dubai fountain, 27 May 2026 (illustration). © Fatima Shbair / AP

More than 1,000 people have been arrested across Gulf states for sharing information or opinions related to the Iran-US-Israeli war, in what Amnesty International has described as a “widespread crackdown” on freedom of expression.

In a statement released on Monday, the human rights organisation accused members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman – of “indiscriminately criminalising the exchange of information” under the pretext of national security.