Kuwait Reviews 5,838 Citizenship Cases for Revocation

Kuwait's Supreme Committee to Investigate Kuwaiti Citizenship has recommended the revocation of 5,838 citizenships, referring these cases to the Council of Ministers for final approval. This decision is part of the country's ongoing citizenship review campaign, which has already resulted in the cancellation of 12,000 citizenships since August 2024.

Program Focus and Legal Grounds for Revocation

The majority of the targeted revocations, 5,838 in total, involve naturalized wives from 54 countries who obtained citizenship under Article 8 of Kuwait's nationality law. This provision allows foreign women who marry Kuwaiti nationals to receive citizenship after 15 years of marriage. The government scrutinises these naturalizations through Article 13, which outlines conditions for citizenship revocation.

Article 13's fourth provision authorizes the revocation of citizenship if authorities find evidence that a naturalized citizen's actions could "seriously undermine the economic or social structure of the State." The remaining cases include four instances of dual nationality and 128 cases of fraud.

The First Deputy Prime Minister is leading the initiative to examine approximately 32,000 naturalized wives of Kuwaiti citizens by the end of the month, as the cabinet prepares to review each case individually.

The government maintains that "there will be no compromise on the national identity file," emphasizing that citizenship is fundamentally based on loyalty and belonging, not personal benefits and gains.

Fraudulent Practices and Unprecedented Investigations

According to a government source, finding "a single instance of forgery" triggers a comprehensive audit of the entire family file. The committee encourages individuals aware of fraudulent registrations to report them voluntarily to avoid criminal liability.

A notable example is a case of a man who obtained citizenship in 1993 and subsequently registered 74 fake children and grandchildren, using a fictitious birth certificate following Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

Government Protective Measures

The government states that it has protective measures in place for certain affected individuals. Women who lose citizenship through these investigations will retain their employment and current salaries, while retirees will continue receiving pensions.

The Supreme Committee plans to complete its review of the Article 8 file by the end of January, while the cabinet considers the current revocation decisions for final approval. This latest development marks a significant escalation in Kuwait's ongoing efforts to address citizenship fraud and protect its national identity.