October 31, 2019: A legal observer for the Upper Hand Organization reported shocking repression in Iraq, with security forces violently suppressing peaceful protests led by young civilians. Witnesses described being chased, assaulted, and having their devices confiscated to prevent documentation of abuses. Photo 1, Photo 2, Video 1, Video 2.
October 31, 2019: A legal observer for the Upper Hand Organization reported severe repression against unarmed civilians during peaceful protests in Baghdad and Karbala on October 2, 2019. Protesters faced live gunfire, tear gas, and internet shutdowns that blocked communication and documentation of abuses. An eyewitness said: “I documented security forces running over demonstrators and shooting live rounds, but they confiscated my device and I had to escape in my car.” Tweet.
July 22, 2019: The documentary “Kuwaiti Refugees” revealed the plight of Kuwaitis forced into exile. Mohamad Al-Mail participated, sharing his personal story of political persecution. YouTube.
July 16, 2019: The Kuwaiti Criminal Court sentenced Mohamad Al-Mail in absentia to 7 years in prison for expressing political and religious opinions — bringing his total sentences to 17 years after the prior 10‑year verdict. Document.
July 11, 2019: The Upper Hand Organization called for an urgent conference to expose Kuwait’s escalating human-rights violations, restrictive laws, and unfair charges against activists that have driven many to seek political asylum abroad. The event aims to highlight these abuses and the plight of Kuwaiti asylum seekers. For more information: contact@upper-hand.org. PDF.
July 9, 2019: The Upper Hand Organization called for withdrawing Kuwait’s titles of “Humanitarian Center” and “Humanitarian Leader,” citing ongoing discrimination against stateless Bidun and severe restrictions on free expression. The statement criticized broad laws—such as the Cybercrime Law and the National Unity Law—used to jail critics and push others into political asylum. Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4, Picture 5, Picture 6, Picture 7, Picture 8, Picture 9, Picture 10, Picture 11, Picture 12, Picture 13, Picture 14, Picture 15, Picture 16, Picture 17, Picture 18, Photo, Document.
May 28, 2019: The Upper Hand Organization questioned Qatar’s credibility in protecting political refugees, citing past cases of forced returns to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Despite Qatar’s new asylum law, the organization noted its vague provisions and its conflict with the 2012 Gulf Security Agreement, which obligates Doha to hand over wanted individuals. The organization asked how Qatar could protect dissidents from powerful allies and highlighted unresolved concerns about the law’s practical guarantees. Mohamad Al-Mail sent a letter to Qatar’s ambassador in London requesting clarification. Picture.
May 15, 2019: The Upper Hand Organization condemned NSO Group, an Israeli company under the Defense Ministry that sells spyware to governments with severe rights abuses. Its Pegasus tool has been used to infiltrate apps like WhatsApp and target activists, critics, and opposition figures. Investigations linked NSO’s technology to the surveillance of Jamal Khashoggi before his murder, and Amnesty International accused it of targeting its staff. The organization urged legal action to stop the export of NSO’s surveillance tools. Picture.
May 4, 2019: The Upper Hand Organization released a report on the growing trend of Kuwaitis seeking political asylum, outlining five broad charges commonly used by courts to prosecute activists under vague laws. The report highlighted ongoing restrictions on free expression, a tightening security approach since 2011, and discriminatory judicial practices. It noted that many activists pursue asylum to escape political persecution, while others leave due to lost hope in reform. The report held Kuwait’s leadership politically responsible for enabling laws that violate constitutional and international standards, contributing to the country’s worsening human-rights record. PDF.
April 18, 2019: The Upper Hand Organization urged UK authorities not to extradite Julian Assange to the United States, warning he risks human-rights abuses for his work with WikiLeaks. The statement argued that Assange committed no criminal act and that the accusations against him were politically motivated. Picture 1, Picture 2.
March 15, 2019: Mohamad Al-Mail met with British MP Gareth Thomas to discuss the deteriorating human-rights situation in Kuwait and the rising number of political asylum requests. Al-Mail provided a list of questions for Thomas to raise with the UK government regarding arbitrary arrests, torture, and restrictions on freedoms in Kuwait. Thomas noted he had met stateless Kuwaitis before but never Kuwaiti political refugees forced to flee due to repression. Picture 1, Picture 2, Document 1, Document 2, Document 3, Parliamentary Question 1, Parliamentary Question 2, Parliamentary Question 3, Parliamentary Question 4, Parliamentary Question 5.
February 19, 2019: The Upper Hand Organization revealed new documents related to Mohamad Al-Mail, including investigation records and security papers. The documents highlight how authorities fabricated charges against political activists. Al-Mail, forced to flee to the UK, became Kuwait’s youngest political refugee after receiving a 10-year prison sentence and losing his scholarship. Additional documents showed a 3,000-KWD fine in July 2018 for allegedly insulting the judiciary under Kuwait’s controversial cybercrime law, criticized for restricting free expression and harming the country’s human-rights reputation. Photocopy 1, Photocopy 2, Photocopy 3.
February 18, 2019: The Upper Hand Organization called on the UK to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia following a historic court ruling suspending export licenses. The statement highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, citing civilian casualties, widespread hunger among children, and ongoing abuses by the Saudi-led campaign. Picture 1, Picture 2, Video.
January 22, 2019: Kuwaiti human-rights activist Anwar Al-Rasheed declared Mohamad Al-Mail as the country’s tenth political refugee. He repeatedly called for the annulment of the convictions against Al-Mail, describing the laws under which he was judged as “invalid.” Statement 1, Statement 2, Statement 3, Tweet 1, Tweet 2, Tweet 3, Tweet 4, Tweet 5, Tweet 6.
