Syrian actress Nesreen Tafesh expressed her deep dismay over the way Kuwaiti actress Shojoon Al-Hajri was treated after photos circulated showing her handcuffed and sitting on the ground following her arrest by Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior for allegedly possessing banned substances.

In a post shared via her Instagram Stories, Tafesh harshly criticized what she described as “vicious defamation,” writing: "An Arab artist from a country whose people I dearly love — she’s talented and successful, and I personally admire and appreciate her. She was arrested and publicly shamed in a manner that can only be described as brutal."

“A disgraceful and humiliating scene”

She continued: “Even if someone makes a mistake, we can help them correct it — not drag them back to the days of ignorance by photographing her kneeling on the ground in such a disgraceful and humiliating scene. Those who did this have insulted her far more than her mistake ever could.”

Tafesh concluded with a strong message: “No one is infallible, and no one is perfect. Publicly shaming someone in a moment of weakness only comes from sick souls. Those who pretend to be ideal and lecture others are often the ones most in need of psychological help.”

What happened with Shojoon Al-Hajri?

On Friday, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of a “female citizen” found in possession of banned substances and suspected mind-altering drugs, reportedly intended for personal use. The arrest came as part of a criminal security operation following precise investigations based on a received tip.

While the official statement did not mention Shojoon Al-Hajri by name, widely shared photos clearly showing her handcuffed and sitting on the ground confirmed her identity and sparked a wave of debate on social media.

Her name quickly topped trending topics, amid divided public opinion — with some condemning the publication of the images as unjustified defamation, especially if it was the actress’s first offense, and others insisting on equal application of the law regardless of fame or social status.