447 people lose nationality in Kuwait amid rising revocations

• Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef stated that the Nationality Investigation Committee meets every Thursday to carefully review cases for nationality withdrawal, including older cases handled by the Council of Ministers.

Members of the Supreme Committee to Investigate the Kuwaiti Citizenship, led by Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef — the Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior — addressed key concerns regarding the national identity file on Tuesday.

According to Al-Qabas newspaper, the committee clarified issues surrounding the withdrawal of nationality and dismissed circulating rumors.

In an interview on Kuwait TV’s 60 Minutes, Sheikh FahadAl-Yousef emphasized that the Nationality Investigation Committee thoroughly reviews cases of individuals facing nationality withdrawal with precision and care.

He stated that the committee convenes every Thursday to evaluate submitted cases and decide whether to withdraw, revoke, or forfeit citizenship. Additionally, the committee is also examining older cases previously handled by the Council of Ministers.

The members of the committee revealed that the number of individuals whose nationality was revoked—whether by withdrawal, loss, or forfeiture—reached 447, according to the latest committee statistics.

They emphasized that preserving national identity is the responsibility of every citizen of this country. They explained that in cases where forgery of nationality has been proven, it shows that the individual’s relationship with the homeland is purely material.

Jurist Colonel Abdulaziz Al-Amiri, the Director of the Research and Follow-up Department, stated that the withdrawal and loss of nationality is ongoing and will not cease. He explained that individuals whose nationality has been revoked are managed by a dedicated department called the “Department of Those Whose Nationality Was Withdrawn.” This department issues them temporary identification documents to facilitate follow-ups and adjust their status according to their original nationality.

Al-Amiri highlighted that uncovering cases of forgery in nationality matters is a challenging and complex process, with some files dating back more than 50 years. He also noted that the wives of naturalized Kuwaitis hold nationalities from 66 different Arab and foreign countries.

He added that some individuals obtained citizenship under the first article through forgery, posing as cousins but were actually siblings, a fact uncovered through DNA testing.

He further stated that it was revealed they are registered as siblings of 132 dependents, including 56 employees, each earning an average salary of 600 dinars. This results in a cost to the state of approximately 400,000 dinars annually.

Colonel Turki Al-Sabah, the Assistant Director of the Nationality Department, stated that the process of losing nationality applies to all citizens and naturalized individuals, while withdrawal applies only to naturalized individuals. He praised the significant cooperation of citizens in the nationality file, highlighting the valuable information they provided on the matter.

He noted that amendments to the articles of the Nationality Law address many previous gaps, emphasizing that under these amendments, the wife of a non-Kuwaiti citizen will no longer be eligible for citizenship.

Al-Sabah also mentioned that the naturalization process for Kuwaiti wives and children of Kuwaiti women hasbeen discontinued, adding that most cases of forgery involved holders of nationality under the first article.

Studying files as per highest standards

The Director of the Technical Office, Colonel Mohammed Al-Madar, stated, “The General Directorate of Nationality and Travel Documents is committed to strengthening the foundations of national identity, preserving it, and fostering a sense of belonging to the homeland, by ensuring the accuracy of nationality file reviews according to the highest standards.”

Surge in hotline reports on forgery and dual nationality

Colonel Turki Al-Sabah, Assistant Director of the Department of Citizenship, remarked that he did not anticipate the high volume of reports received through the hotline concerning cases of forgery or dual nationality.

Forgery scheme using twin birth certificates exposed

Brigadier General Al-Omiri noted that some forgers were obtaining twin birth certificates abroad—registering one legitimate child and one fake. After the documents were validated, the birth certificates would be swapped in Kuwait, and a fictitious nationality card would be issued.

Case of dual citizenship uncovered

Colonel Abdul Aziz Al-Amiri, Director of the Research and Follow-up Department, reviewed a case of nationality forgery in which Article 13 of the Nationality Law applied. It involved a woman who received citizenship twice: once under Article 1 and again under Article 8, based on her husband’s status.

Surge in citizenship withdrawals

Colonel Abdulaziz Al-Amiri, Director of the Research and Follow-up Department, attributed the recent increase in citizenship withdrawals to the fact that, initially, the Ministry of Interior was solely responsible for receiving information on forgery or dual nationality. However, now the ministry receives information from both inside and outside Kuwait, with all state institutions cooperating and providing data on duplication or forgery.

A rise in forgery after Iraqi invasion

Colonel Abdulaziz Al-Amiri further explained that statistics revealed most of the forgers who obtained citizenship under Article 8 were naturalized after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.