Kuwait has long been known as a nation that is compassionate towards its people and others alike. Even in the darkest times, the country never abandoned its citizens, and ensured they received essential services to live with dignity. After liberation, Kuwait continued to help its people by alleviating hardships. During the seven months of occupation and the Iraqi invasion, the national spirit prevailed. Solidarity among citizens reached its highest expression, serving as a lasting model for free nations. No individual placed personal interest above the nation’s well-being, with numerous documented stories illustrating this selflessness.
Compassion remains a core part of Kuwaiti culture, both at home and abroad. For instance, although the issue of stateless residents (Bedoun) is still unresolved, they are granted certain basic rights and are employed in government and private sector jobs. Many non-Bedoun individuals facing crises have also received compassionate support, helping them rise from the depths of despair and return to Kuwait with dignity. Therefore, despite the tragedy Kuwait endured during the invasion and occupation, the country did not abandon its charitable efforts worldwide. There are many notable examples, including the late Kuwaiti scholar Abdulrahman Al-Sumait, the late Abdullah Al-Nouri, and others who have left a lasting impact on Kuwait’s global humanitarian legacy. These figures serve as models for extending a helping hand to the oppressed within Kuwait, ensuring that social balance is not disrupted. Kuwait’s rich history provides valuable experience in overcoming current crises. Many issues can be resolved through simple, practical measures, so that citizens do not feel abandoned, particularly those facing challenges that threaten family cohesion and disrupt family life. With this in mind, I direct my remarks to the government, which currently holds both executive and legislative authority. Kuwait is currently facing a serious crisis that allows no room for slogans or unrealistic justifications.
The problem I am referring to is the crisis of insolvent and struggling debtors, numbering over 200,000 citizens. These individuals are now trapped in a suffocating situation, particularly after the implementation of arrest warrants for insolvent debtors. This measure has closed all doors for them, leaving many unable to leave their homes for fear of arrest or losing their means of livelihood. Meanwhile, the state possesses ample funds that could be used to assist these citizens, alleviate their suffering, and ensure a basic level of dignity for their families. Thanks to God, sovereign wealth continues to grow, and oil reserves remain abundant. Allocating 1.7 billion dinars to resolve the issue of insolvent debtors would not be a huge burden on the state.
It is true that the problem of loans is not unique to Kuwait, but many countries have adopted humane solutions because the goal is not merely debt collection but, above all, consideration of people’s circumstances. Accordingly, the legal principle states that a lender who was negligent in granting a loan bears greater responsibility than a borrower who sought assistance but lacked the capacity to repay. In many cases, the lender was fully aware of the borrower’s financial limitations, yet still approved the loan and secured commitments that he knew the borrower would be unable to fulfill. I have spoken about this issue on more than one occasion, emphasizing that fundamental constitutional rights prohibit depriving citizens of their liberty through administrative measures or solely due to an inability to repay a debt.
The essence of any constitution lies in the preservation of dignity, freedom, and equality, as well as supporting individuals in meeting their basic needs. Imprisoning a debtor to force them to repay a loan is unacceptable, as it ultimately results in loss for both the debtor and the lender. There are many avenues of compassion available if the government truly seeks to resolve this socio-economic crisis, particulardeclining consumer spending is affecting the national economy and undermining commercial activity. It was once said that the one who finds no helping hand is like someone crying out from afar, unheard because everyone is preoccupied with their own concerns. Hence, it is the government’s responsibility to extend a helping hand to its citizens so that economic and commercial cycles can function properly and injustice is not inflicted upon them. It must also be emphasized that no country in the world imprisons individuals for issuing a bounced cheque, nor do civil disputes justify travel bans or imprisonment for small borrowers. State institutions should not be used as tools for debt collection on behalf of creditors who knowingly accepted financial risk. The burden of debt alone is sufficient enough for the debtor.ly at a time when
