Iraqi interior ministry issues clarification on extradition of Kuwaiti citizen

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Interior issued a statement addressing reports and images circulating on social media regarding the extradition of Salman Al-Khalidi, a Kuwaiti national, to Kuwaiti authorities. The ministry said that the operation adhered to international legal frameworks and agreements under Interpol protocols.

“As Iraq is a member of the International Criminal Police Organization, the Ministry of Interior is committed to implementing agreements, treaties, and full cooperation with Arab and friendly nations in various security fields,” the statement said.

Salman Al-Khalidi, a 24-year-old Kuwaiti activist, has been a prominent advocate for human rights and political reform in Kuwait. Known for his outspoken criticism of Kuwait’s ruling family, Al-Khalidi frequently highlighted corruption issues and the plight of Kuwait’s stateless population, known as the Bedoon. His social media activity, particularly on X, formerly Twitter, has been marked by sharp political commentary, addressing sensitive topics such as government accountability and regional political dynamics.

Iraq extradited Salman Al-Khalidi to Kuwait on Wednesday under an Interpol international arrest warrant, raising questions about the treatment of political dissent.

The ministry explained that Al-Khalidi, wanted on multiple criminal charges by the Kuwaiti judiciary, was found on Iraqi territory. In response to a Kuwaiti-issued arrest warrant and a search notice from the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, Iraq followed legal procedures in coordination with both the Iraqi and Kuwaiti judicial systems.

“The extradition was carried out legally and transparently through cooperation between Iraqi Interpol [National Central Bureau in Baghdad] and Kuwaiti Interpol authorities. This fulfills the Ministry of Interior’s obligation to hand over fugitives present on Iraqi soil to their respective countries,” the statement clarified.

“Iraq receives dozens of wanted individuals daily from its counterparts in Arab and foreign countries, covering a range of criminal charges, including terrorism, drug trafficking, and corruption,” the statement noted.

In April 2024, Al-Khalidi was stripped of his Kuwaiti citizenship by an Emiri decree under Article 13 of Kuwait’s 1959 Nationality Law. Previously, in May 2023, a Kuwaiti criminal court sentenced him to five years of hard labor for allegedly “spreading false and malicious rumors abroad about the country’s internal affairs and damaging Kuwait’s relations with other nations through his social media account.”

According to Human Rights Watch, Al-Khalidi had previously received a five-year sentence, though he was later pardoned by authorities.

In a statement, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior praised the cooperation between Iraqi and Kuwaiti authorities, “In a security achievement reflecting strong international cooperation and coordination, the Ministry of Interior’s Criminal Security Sector, represented by Interpol, apprehended Salman Al-Khalidi, who was sentenced to 11 enforceable prison terms and had been internationally wanted since Dec. 4, 2023, under judicial rulings. Alerts were issued to all countries to ensure his capture and extradition.”

The operation began after Kuwaiti authorities tracked Al-Khalidi’s presence in Iraq. An Interpol-led security team, in collaboration with Iraqi authorities and the Kuwaiti embassy in Baghdad, swiftly executed the operation to prevent his escape.

Al-Khalidi was detained in Baghdad Airport and later transferred to Basra Airport by Iraqi authorities. The handover to Kuwaiti authorities took place at the Safwan border crossing, with Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani representing the Iraqi government.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior expressed gratitude to Iraq’s Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani, and Iraqi judicial and security authorities for their swift cooperation and response in facilitating the extradition.

Explaining his role, Al-Eidani stated in a Whatsapp group, “The individual was arrested under an international warrant at Baghdad Airport. He was transferred to Basra by Interpol and handed over to Kuwaiti authorities under established agreements. I represented the Iraqi government at the handover since Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari had other commitments.”