Kuwait tells citizens to check phones before travelling to US

Kuwait has advised citizens to make sure their phones contain no material that might be seen as being linked to Islamist militants before traveling to the United States, local media reported on Saturda, after three men were denied entry in July.

State news agency KUNA quoted a statement by the Kuwaiti embassy in Washington as saying that authorities at “some US airports may check the contents of mobile phones or other smart mobile equipment”.

“The embassy of the state of Kuwait in Washington urged citizens to make sure that their phones do not contain any materials or photos of extremist nature, related to areas of conflict or terrorist organisations or footage of violence of all kinds before entering US territories,” KUNA said, citing a statement.

“(This is) so that students and citizens may be spared questioning by authorities in US airports and to avoid any action against them that could result in cancelng their visas and banning them from entering US territories," it added.

Earlier incidents

The Arabic language al-Rai newspaper reported in July that three businessmen were questioned for 21 hours at Los Angeles airport and had their telephones checked before they were turned back, in the second incident of its kind this year.

The Gulf Arab OPEC oil exporter is a key US ally and a member of an international alliance led by the United States which is fighting against ISIS in Syria.

In July, the UAE told its male citizens to avoid wearing traditional white robes and head dress when traveling abroad, after a businessman was wrestled to the ground at an Avon, Ohio hotel and held as an ISIS suspect.