In a sweeping reform, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah revoked the citizenship of thousands of its citizens who do not have Kuwaiti blood ties. This is a part of the ongoing Campaign led by Committee for National Affairs spearheaded by the Emir himself to return Kuwait to the Kuwaiti people.
Emir also abolished the system of naturalization through marriage targeting women and repealed the citizenship given to wives from 1987. As per official data, 38,505 women received citizenship through naturalization from 1993 to 2020. Citizenship acquired through fraudulent means have also been revoked including those citizens having dual citizenship which is prohibited in Kuwait.
Celebrities in Kuwait were not left alone either. Citizenship acquired through achievements were revoked leaving pop singer Nawal the Kuwaiti and actor Dawood Hussain stateless overnight. Islamic Preacher Nabil Awadi now have his citizenship revoked twice by the Kuwaiti authorities.
Background of the Campaign:
Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dissolved all elements of democracy in Kuwait after coming to power by 2024. Corruption, delay of policies and security issues supposedly led the Emir to dissolve the parliament altogether. While critics have suggested consolidation of power by the Emir and targeting of opponents with this drive. Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in a public speech claimed that the campaign is a national effort to “restore Kuwait to its rightful people, clean and free of impurities.”
Sheikh Fahad Al-Youseff defended the Emir and said, “Kuwait was held hostage by forged nationalities. We are now returning it to its true citizens.” and warned, “forgers and dual nationals will face severe penalties”.
However, Kuwait has a history of revoking citizenship which is often claimed to be a way of suppressing dissent in the international space. In 2014, Kuwait under Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah conducted a massive crackdown upon the opposition which consists of liberals, Islamists, nationalists, leftists and unions by revoking their citizenships. Islamists had criticized the move and called it a very low act. Former Islamist MP Mohammed Hayef pointed out that the move “will plunge the country into a serious political phase”
Kuwait Protests Against The Emir:
Kuwait had faced widespread protests and demonstrations following the arrest of former MP Musallam al-Barrack. He was arrested for making critical speech as prisoner of conscience according to Amnesty International. Kuwait security forces had to use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse thousands of protestors who had rallied for Musallam al-Barrack.
In 2015, a Shia Mosque in Kuwait City was bombed by terrorists. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Back then Kuwait’s Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah had visited the mosque after the attack which killed 27 people and injured hundreds of others. Emir said, ““National unity is a protective fence for the security of the nation,” and declared a state of emergency calling the attack a Black terror.
Kuwait has time and again used the tool of revoking Citizenships citing national security as well as suppressing the opposition. But the crackdown or the campaign accelerated after Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah came to power. As per reports, 42000 people have approximately lost citizenships during the ongoing campaign. Emir has explicitly said democracy should not be used to weaken the state though his suspension of all democratic activities in Kuwait is being widely criticized. Many are pointing out the eerie similarity between what is happening right now in Kuwait to what happened in Iran in 1971 with ouster of Shah of Iran.
