22/02/2026
Share:
22/02/2026
Share:
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 22: A decree was issued and published in the official gazette “Kuwait Al-Youm” concerning the procedures for honoring martyrs and their families, reports Al-Seyassah daily. The decree includes the establishment of an office affiliated with the Ministry of Defense and the creation of a clear legal framework for recognizing martyrdom, defining its categories, and specifying the material and moral recognitions to be provided.
Article 1 of the decree stipulates the establishment of an office, affiliated with the Ministry of Defense, for honoring martyrs and their families. The necessary financial allocations for the office will be included in the ministry’s budget.
Article 2 mandates the formation of a Committee of Trustees for the Martyrs’ Honors Office, appointed by the Minister of Defense. The committee will be chaired by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense and will include representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, the National Guard, Kuwait Fire Force (KFF), the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Public Authority for Minors’ Affairs (PAMA).
According to Article 3, a committee is formed by a decision of the Minister of Defense to designate a martyr and determine their category, in accordance with the regulations stipulated in Article 5, through the following procedures:
• For military personnel: The deceased’s affiliated entity submits an official request accompanied by the death certificate, investigation reports detailing the circumstances of the incident, witness statements (if any), and a memorandum outlining the opinion on the applicability of martyr status.
• For civilians assigned by official entities: The relevant authority completes the same procedures.
• In cases of natural disasters or exceptional public incidents: The deceased’s family submits a request to the committee after the Cabinet issues a decision declaring the incident a disaster or exceptional event, based on a request from the Board of Trustees. The committee may form a subcommittee to review the requests and submit its recommendations to the Board of Trustees for approval, rejection, or a request for additional information. The Board of Trustees’ decision is binding on all relevant public entities.
Article 4 defines a martyr as anyone who loses their life defending the safety and security of the homeland, or as a result of natural disasters or exceptional public events, whether Kuwaiti or non- Kuwaiti, military or civilian.
Article 5 divides martyrs into three categories:
• Martyr of Military Operations: A military or civilian official who dies as a result of military operations, internal or external security operations, or while in captivity, or due to such operations. This includes cases related to military defense purposes, such as live-fire training, airborne landings, shipwrecks, military aircraft accidents, and mine and explosive ordnance disposal operations.
• Martyr of Duty: A member of the Army, Police, National Guard, or fire department who loses their life while performing official duties, provided the case does not fall under the category of military operations.
• Martyr of Natural Disasters and Exceptional Public Events: Anyone who dies as a result of a natural disaster or exceptional public event, if the Council of Ministers decides to classify the event as such.
Article 6 stipulates that any prisoner of war or missing person whose death is confirmed as a result of the Iraqi invasion shall be considered a martyr, effective from the date of death confirmed by a forensic medical report issued by the General Directorate of Criminal Evidence. Their employment and insurance status shall be settled if they were employed by government agencies, public institutions, or state-owned companies, based on the termination of their service due to death, effective from the confirmed date of death.
Article 7 stipulates that the heirs entitled to inherit from the estate of a person considered a martyr shall be determined based on the date of death confirmed by the forensic medical report. In cases where the remains are not found, the legal procedures established for proving death, in accordance with Law No. 51/1984, shall be applied.
Article 8 affirms that martyrs and their families shall be honored both materially and morally in various ways that reflect the state’s appreciation. The Board of Trustees is authorized to propose additional forms of honoring and to establish guidelines for their implementation. The term “family of the martyr” refers to first-degree relatives.
Article 9 stipulates the transfer of the financial allocations designated for the Martyr’s Bureau within the Amiri Diwan’s budget for the fiscal year of 2025/2026 to the Ministry of Defense. Article 10 repeals Decree No. 38/1991.
