National Identity Defense Group endorses Amir’s call for identity preservation

• The National Identity Defence Group issued a statement signed by hundreds of citizens, emphasizing the need to implement His Highness the Amir’s directives for national identity preservation and supporting government actions against nationality tampering.

• The signatories appreciated efforts for truly protecting national identity and preventing any political or parliamentary interference that might hinder the government’s efforts to address this issue.

The National Identity Defence Group issued a statement signed by hundreds of citizens, which will be presented to His Highness’s diwan along with the signatories’ names.

The group confirmed that this statement came in implementation and the support of His Highness the Amir’s speech calling for preserving national identity.

The signatories of the statement expressed the necessity of implementing His Highness the Amir’s paternal directives to preserve national identity. They also voiced support for the steps, procedures, and tireless efforts undertaken by the government and the Minister of Interior to address tampering with nationality.

Furthermore, they stressed the importance of making strict and appropriate decisions to combat forgery, duplication, and manipulation, which have affected thousands of Kuwaiti nationalities.

The signatories of the statement appreciated these efforts for truly protecting national identity and preventing any political or parliamentary interference that might hinder the government’s efforts to address this issue.

Addressing counterfeiting

The group’s statement on national identity, titled “The upcoming elections are a response to the awakening of a state and to confront fraud,” addressed the call for parliamentary elections. This call followed the significant speech delivered by His Highness the Amir on December 20, 2023. According to the statement, His Highness mentioned: “We have not touched upon changing or correcting the course; rather, the situation has escalated beyond that. The legislative and executive authorities have cooperated and agreed to actions that harmed the country’s interests and its people. This includes inappropriate appointments and transfers in certain positions that did not meet basic standards of justice and fairness, as well as changes in the nationality file, which represent a shift in Kuwaiti identity.”

The statement stated that His Highness had clearly announced immediate corrective actions by suspending appointment and promotion decisions for a specific period. He now takes responsibility for overseeing these corrective measures and urges the people to share responsibility through the upcoming elections. His Highness also warned about the gravity of the oath, which carries immense responsibility for its speaker. The oath includes, “I swear by Almighty God to be loyal to the homeland and the Amir, to respect the constitution and the laws of the state, to defend the people’s freedoms, interests, and money, and to perform my duties with honesty and integrity.”

Sovereign decisions

The group stated in its statement, “Yes, His Highness did not waste time even before assuming the reins of power; he made his sovereign decisions and acted on them immediately after taking the oath. Among the most prominent of those decisions were steps to cleanse the citizenship file from forgery that had damaged the national identity, turning it into a document that was bought and sold in a degraded form. This issue was addressed decisively.”

Popular interaction

The group added that the Kuwaiti people responded positively to the statement and engaged actively to rectify the path of national identity. Investigations revealed audacious practices by individuals lacking moral strength, to the extent that forging nationality became easier than obtaining an entry visa to the country. The parliamentary component emerged as a significant protector of these practices, as 32 representatives refused to form a committee to detect forgery in naturalization and also rejected a vote to prosecute forgers of academic certificates.

Some representatives regularly visit the Naturalization Department and blatantly interfere in its operations to shield forgers, many of whom have received final judicial rulings against them. These actions ignore the words of the Almighty God: “So avoid the abomination of idols and avoid false speech,” as well as disregarding the Prophet’s authentic hadith warning against the greatest of major sins, including false speech and false witness, to the point that listeners wished he had remained silent.

Forgery and confusion

The National Identity Defence Group further stated that their efforts to address forgery have led to some misconceptions and confusion. This includes questions about the fate of families whose situations will be rectified. It is emphasized that Kuwait is a country of justice and humanity, and those who correct their situation will continue to live with dignity, like three million expatriates. However, there are instances where individuals, influenced by misguided advice, engage in forgery for monetary gain, leading to unnecessary confusion for them and their families.

The correction will also bring stability to families whose names were unjustly added to the nationality file for their children and grandchildren. It will resolve scenes in courtrooms where counterfeiters openly admit to obtaining citizenship through fraudulent means.

Distorting facts

The statement added, “However, those responsible for this crime are actively seeking to close the investigation file to avoid accountability. They do so by distorting the truth and issuing vague statements about national unity to hide behind them. However, these tactics have gradually been exposed due to the active efforts of the Minister of the Interior and ministry staff.

They have highlighted documents that reveal the extent of tampering and forgery, which has greatly influenced those who were previously unaware of these facts.

This review is a testament to their genuine intentions.

Correct path

The group stated in its statement, “We extend our gratitude to the government of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Al-Sabah for assisting His Highness the Emir in rectifying the lax approach. This will have a positive impact on issues related to academic certificates, marriage contracts, and birth documents, and will rectify many erroneous conditions in the housing file.”

Facilitating government department operations

The National Identity Defence Group affirmed that this initiative will enable all government departments to function effectively. The General Traffic Department, for instance, has faced challenges with thousands of vehicles from neighboring countries bearing non-existent names in the country, yet they have operated freely for years, accumulating violations worth hundreds of thousands of dinars without repercussions. This situation violates the principle of justice. Similarly, forged certificates have harmed many critical professions, leading to unqualified individuals occupying these roles.

State’s awakening under wise leadership

The group described the ongoing corrective efforts in Egypt as “the awakening of a state,” led by His Highness the Amir of the country. He fulfills his oath before God with wisdom, firmness, and straightforward words, devoid of ambiguity.

The response in taking responsibility comes from experienced figures addressing these issues through the team formed by His Highness the Prime Minister, with help and support. This march has been long-awaited by the Kuwaiti people, who express concerns about its impact on justice.

The group emphasized that everyone must heed the guidance of the leader, following the Almighty’s command: “O you who have believed, obey God and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you,” to ensure their safety in this world and the hereafter.