KUWAIT CITY, March 11: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) will strictly enforce a law on the cancellation of the Kuwaiti citizenship of those who hold dual nationality, including ministers and parliamentarians, reports Al-Anba daily quoting Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid. “I am not focusing on the position of anyone with dual citizenship. We will enforce the law equally. If I have another nationality, it will be revoked,” the minister asserted. He warned anyone who fails to give up their other nationality to the Citizenship and Passports Department will lose the Kuwaiti nationality. Meanwhile, Al-Rai daily has quoted MP Khalid Al-Adwa as saying that the minister will enforce the law only on citizens who hold other GCC nationalities. He raised doubts on the ability of the minister to revoke the American nationality.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Al-Adwa pointed out the existing laws in the US and European countries do not allow the cancellation of their nationalities. He accused Sheikh Jaber of targeting only the Kuwaitis who hold other GCC nationalities, not those with American or European passports. He said the MPs will take a strong stand in this regard and called on the minister to focus on more important issues. He affirmed the report of Sheikh Thamer is not related to the dual citizenship issue. He alleged some prominent businessmen, influential people and members of ruling family hold dual citizenship. He wondered if Sheikh Faisal Al-Nawaf has the ability to summon these people for questioning.
In a related development, MP Ali Al-Rashed opined the minister will surely focus on MPs and ministers with dual citizenship because they are the decision-makers in the country, reports Alam Al-Yawm daily.
MP Al-Saifi Mubarak Al-Saifi admitted he was surprised when the government decided to revoke the citizenship of those with dual nationality as it is against the law. He believes the statement of Sheikh Jaber is actually aimed at reopening sensitive cases and files that might instigate chaos between societies.

MP Saadoun Hammad alleged the minister has approved the naturalization application of his secretary only to rescind his decision later due to pressure. He opined the minister should resign in case he presses ahead with his decision to cancel the citizenship of those with dual nationality.
Some of the  34 people, who were indicted by the Thamer Committee Report concerning dual citizenship, have allegedly been living abroad for about 20 years and returned to Kuwait only after the issue became publice in 2008, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting sources.
Sources asserted this contradicts one of the conditions for reviewing the citizenship of these people because the passports should be available and holders must maintain residence in Kuwait. Sources disclosed 20 of the concerned people are involved in cases that might tarnish their image, in addition to security cases.
Sources explained the cases came up only after they obtained citizenship. This is why the cases were not in their files, especially since some of them presented initial rulings while many others did not mention the cases, prompting the Legal and Legislation Committee to conclude that these people were not eligible for citizenship.