Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior announced the arrest after its Criminal Security Sector received a tip regarding the Egyptian gynecologist’s activities at a private clinic. The sector placed the suspect under surveillance before arranging an undercover appointment to gather evidence of illegal procedures. Officers then secured legal authorization and executed a raid on the premises, the ministry reported. The operation reflects the authorities’ systematic approach to investigating such complaints through coordinated steps.
The raid resulted in the seizure of 49 abortion pills and 115 psychotropic pills from the clinic, according to the ministry’s statement. The gynecologist confessed during interrogation to obtaining the abortion pills illegally from abroad for use in unauthorized terminations, the ministry added. Authorities have referred the suspect to the public prosecution for further action on the charges.
A 2019 review of abortion laws in the Middle East and North Africa published in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics noted that Kuwait permits the procedure only in cases posing a risk to the pregnant woman’s physical health or involving fetal impairment. The analysis by researcher I. Maffi placed Kuwait’s framework among those in several Gulf states that maintain tight restrictions balancing medical needs with prevailing ethical standards. Such policies have contributed to consistently low numbers of officially recorded procedures over time.
Similar incidents have surfaced in prior years, including the 2019 arrest of a female gynecologist at Kuwait International Airport for attempting to smuggle abortion pills, as reported by Asianet News. That case involved efforts to bring in a substantial quantity of the substances, highlighting vulnerabilities in cross-border controls. The latest arrest demonstrates continued attention to both local clinics and supply networks.
The development occurs amid the Ministry of Interior’s broader security initiatives that have produced multiple enforcement actions in recent days. The ministry announced on August 2 the arrest of 1,253 individuals wanted for security violations or breaches of residency and labor laws during a campaign in the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area, according to Kuwait Times. Those operations, conducted under directives from senior officials including First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, also resulted in the referral of 36 children born out of wedlock along with their mothers to relevant authorities.
The ministry stated that it would pursue firm action against violations of this nature to protect public health standards. Its announcement emphasized the role of such enforcement in addressing unauthorized medical activities across the country. Investigators continue to examine any additional elements connected to the clinic’s operations.
