Wide-scale Citizenship Deception Investigations and Enhanced Security Measures
In a bold move to protect national identity and security, Kuwait's Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality, spearheaded by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, has clamped down on individuals engaging in fraud, forgery, and actions detrimental to national interests.
The scrutiny covers a wide range of issues, from duplicating and fraudulently acquiring citizenship to affiliations that threaten the state's integrity. Citizenship revocation decisions are now under consideration for final approval by the Council of Ministers.
Recently, the committee has not only focused on traditional citizenship-related fraud but also on individuals who dishonor Kuwait and its leadership through social media, both domestically and internationally. Such actions, according to authorities, are considered an attack on national dignity. In some cases, entire families – from children to grandchildren – have had their Kuwaiti nationality revoked due to complicity.
It's crucial to note that social media is no shield from accountability, as users engaging in illegal or slanderous activities, even from outside Kuwait, will face consequences. "The Kuwaiti leadership is a red line," state security sources, warning that insolence and transgression will be met with severe consequences.
In recent months, high-profile cases of nationality-related fraud have come to light, revealing the depth and complexity of the issue.
For instance, an Iranian woman in a case traced back to 1986, added her son from a previous marriage to her Kuwaiti citizenship file in agreement with her new Kuwaiti husband. The son, born in Iran, later became a pilot in Kuwait. The fraud was only discovered decades later during an inheritance dispute following the husband's death. DNA testing confirmed that the son was not biologically related to the Kuwaiti father. He was sentenced to seven years in absentia after fleeing to Iran.
Another case surfaced during police academy registration procedures, when inconsistencies in a citizenship file led to a deeper investigation. DNA tests revealed that a man fraudulently added as an uncle to the applicant's file was not related to the family. This single falsification had enabled 39 individuals to obtain citizenship improperly.
While the vast majority of cases have been domestic, some have involved cross-border travel fraud, such as a Gulf citizen using his true Gulf identity for travel while hiding his fraudulently acquired Kuwaiti nationality.
These developments emphasize Kuwait's unyielding stance against identity fraud and threats to national integrity. Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef affirms that all offenders, regardless of their location or status, will face harsh legal action. The Ministry of Interior's relentless investigations, bolstered by advanced technology, regional cooperation, and judicial oversight, continue to root out false claims and preserve the sanctity of Kuwaiti nationality.
The Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality, led by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, is not only scrutinizing traditional cases of citizenship-related fraud but also focusing on individuals who dishonor Kuwait and its leadership through general-news platforms like social media. Moreover, the committee is considering revoking citizenship for those found to be involved in crimes and actions that threaten national interests under the broad category of crime-and-justice.
