KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait has deported a prominent activist after withdrawing his Kuwaiti citizenship last year, local media reported, a move he and other opposition figures said was politically motivated.

The Kuwaiti government last year ordered a crackdown on people suspected of trying to “undermine the stability” of the country. The move followed the arrest of opposition politician Musallam Al-Barrak.

The Arabic-language Al-Rai newspaper reported on Wednesday that Saad Al-Ajmi, spokesman for the Popular Action Movement (PAM) and a former correspondent for Al Arabiya news channel, was detained on Tuesday and deported.

A Kuwaiti security source said Ajmi was sent to Saudi Arabia after his documents showed he was a native Saudi national.

Barrak called for a meeting to discuss Ajmi’s deportation, local news website alaa.cc said.

Born in Kuwait, Ajmi, was one of 18 people to have their citizenship withdrawn by authorities last year.