Three individuals forfeit their citizenship status, leaving them as dependents.
The Council of Ministers in Kuwait has taken a significant step in enforcing the Kuwaiti Citizenship Law, revoking the citizenship of certain individuals based on fraudulent means. This decision, published today in the official gazette Kuwait Alyawm, is the first of its kind in the country.
The decision is rooted in Article 21 bis (A) of Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959 on the Kuwaiti Citizenship Law. This provision empowers the revocation of citizenship primarily in cases where citizenship was obtained through fraudulent means, forgery, or illegal processes.
Key circumstances behind the decision include the acquisition of citizenship through forged or false documentation, a common issue in major crackdown cases where large numbers of people had their nationality revoked. The decision also extends to those "associated" or connected with the primary individual, including dependents or family members involved in fraud.
The government is conducting a broad review to identify and revoke citizenships granted illegally or through fraudulent means, with no exceptions. This scrutiny includes the examination of all citizenship files, even those belonging to prominent figures.
It is important to note that the revocation is not intended to target political dissent or other causes. Instead, it is part of Kuwait’s efforts to protect national identity and prevent abuse of citizenship laws.
In this case, the decision affects individuals who obtained citizenship through dependency, as well as those who acquired their citizenship illegally. The decision revokes the citizenship of three individuals, but the implementation involves proving that citizenship was granted unlawfully.
Women who acquired citizenship through marriage and later lost it under this Article may still retain access to benefits and services if they comply with the revocation process and "regularise their status," effectively maintaining some privileges despite losing citizenship.
The Al-Rai daily reported this provision in the decision, marking the first time that the decision being based on illegal means of obtaining citizenship has been publicly acknowledged.
[1] Al-Rai daily report, 2022. [2] Kuwait Times, 2022. [3] Arab Times, 2022. [4] Gulf Times, 2022. [5] Kuwait News Agency, 2022.
In line with the recently published decision, the revocation of citizenship targets individuals who acquired their nationality through fraudulent means or falsified documents, as part of Kuwait's broader review to protect national identity and uphold the authenticity of the Kuwaiti Citizenship Law. This crackdown also extends to those connected with the primary individual, such as dependents or family members involved in the same illegal activities.
