Citizen bid for foreign-dad kids at 18

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Focus on real estate scams

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 20: MP Askar Al-Enizi on Thursday submitted a proposal to amend Nationality Law No. 15/1959 in order to allow the children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis to acquire the Kuwaiti citizenship upon reaching the age of 18 provided they relinquish their current nationality.

Article One of the bill states that any individual born to a Kuwaiti mother and a non-Kuwaiti father will be eligible for Kuwaiti citizenship upon reaching the age of maturity if the foreign nationality is renounced within three months. During this period, they should submit all the necessary documents to start the procedure; or else, their eligibility will be cancelled.

Prior to reaching the age of maturity, these individuals will be treated as Kuwaiti citizens; while those who reached and passed such age upon the implementation of this bill are still eligible for the Kuwaiti citizenship as long as they renounce their current nationality.

In his explanatory note, the MP said Law No. 15/1959 governs citizenship affairs based on a non-selective principle, allowing for particularities of granting citizenship to be accessed individually. Since the law did not adopt the policy of granting citizenship to children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis except under certain circumstances, the MP proposed this amendment in line with Articles Two and Seven of the Constitution.

Article Two of the Constitution states the Kuwaiti nationality shall be determined by law; while Article Seven stipulates that justice, freedom and equality are the pillars of society, and cooperation and compassion are strong links between citizens.

The MP is keen on addressing the issue due to its lasting social and psychological effects on this layer of society.

Furthermore, Chairman of the parliamentary Petitions and Complaints Committee MP Mubaraak Al-Hajraf disclosed the committee looked into the real estate scams in the country. He pointed out this is a sensitive issue which might evolve to a grilling motion against a minister.

He said the committee has a number of visions on solving the issue; indicating there are several flaws in the law that governs this sector, in addition to the shortcomings of the Commerce and Industry Ministry considering these scams usually happen in licensed real estate expos in the country.

By Ahmed Al-Naqeeb – Arab Times Staff

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