Revoking Kuwaiti citizenship of former MP’s half-brother
A first-time decision, the Supreme Committee for Nationality Investigation, chaired by the Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, H.E. Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, resolved to revoke or withdraw nationality from 1,758 cases. This decision, made during the committee’s meeting yesterday, will be presented to the Council of Ministers for final approval.
In this context, informed government sources disclosed to Al Jarida, that one of the individuals affected by the citizenship withdrawal is a half-brother of a former MP. He had obtained citizenship based on ‘noble deeds’ at the age of 21. The sources questioned what such noble deeds could have been done, by a young man?
The sources further revealed that this individual, originally of Iraqi nationality, had acquired Kuwaiti citizenship through a political arrangement during one of the interrogations.
This deal was made in exchange for the position taken by his brother, the former MP, regarding the interrogation. The sources also confirmed that the decrees related to the citizenship withdrawals will soon be published in the Official Gazette (Kuwait Today).
Meanwhile, H.E. Al-Yousef stated yesterday that individuals whose nationalities were revoked under Article 8 of the Nationality Law, specifically; wives of Kuwaitis, divorcees, and widows residing in Kuwait, will retain their jobs and continue to receive the same salaries. Additionally, retired wives of Kuwaitis, divorcees, and widows whose nationalities were revoked under the same article will still receive their retirement salaries.
In parallel, the same sources revealed that the General Administration of Nationality, Passports, and Travel Documents is preparing to publish the second batch of decrees concerning the withdrawal and loss of Kuwaiti citizenship.
This batch will affect approximately 1,000 cases, including the wives, divorcees, and widows of citizens, as well as others who acquired citizenship through forgery, fraud, or by providing false information.
The sources explained that the nationalities of all the wives, widows, and divorcees of the aforementioned citizens were revoked because their citizenships had been granted through an administrative decision rather than an Amiri decree.
The committee discovered that many of them had obtained citizenship based solely on a technical memorandum, which included a decision of ‘no objection to granting citizenship’ but lacked an official decree granting them citizenship.
The sources further stated that the Nationality Department recently circulated a list of individuals whose nationalities were revoked by Amiri decrees during the current week.
This list, which includes 1,158 men and women, was sent to 44 government agencies, as well as the Central Agency for Illegal Residents. The circulation aims to suspend all transactions related to these individuals in official agencies and banks.
The sources explained that the administration has set specific conditions for granting a grievance letter. The most important of these is that the individual whose nationality has been withdrawn must submit all necessary identification documents, including their Kuwaiti nationality certificate, passport, and civil ID card.
After submitting the required documents, the grievance letter, prepared by the legal department in the Nationality Department, will be granted. Additionally, it is necessary for the individual filing the grievance, whether male or female, to appear in person at the administration’s headquarters.
Furthermore, the sources stated that after submitting the required documents, the complainant will be referred to the ‘Central Agency’ where they will be issued a special identity card valid for one year, allowing them to complete their transactions. The sources further explained that the agency has established a special section to handle the issuance of these cards.
The sources noted that the individuals, whose nationality was revoked, whether due to forgery or because they were wives, divorcees, or widows of citizens, will be reverted to the nationality they held prior to acquiring Kuwaiti citizenship.
This includes illegal residents who were granted citizenship. Their files will be returned back to the Central Agency, and new identification documents will be issued to them.
Source: Al Jarida
