Kuwaiti authorities have closed the office of Al Jazeera over coverage of a police crackdown on a public gathering.
“Today, I received a phone call from the information ministry informing me that the office has been closed immediately and our accreditations have been withdrawn,” Saad al Saeedi, al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Kuwait City, said.
Ministry officials had delivered the office a letter that stated the reason for the closure was “the latest developments and your interference in Kuwait’s internal affairs,” Saeedi said, quoting the letter.
“Al Jazeera vows to continue to cover Kuwaiti affairs with full professionalism and balance.”
Al Jazeera had aired extensive coverage of the police crackdown on a gathering held by the Kuwaiti opposition on Wednesday.
It showed footage of police beating activists and aired interviews with members of the Kuwaiti opposition following the clashes in which four Kuwaiti members of parliament and a dozen citizens were hurt.
Al Jazeera denies the charge of meddling in Kuwaiti affairs, saying it was just doing its job.
