KUWAIT CITY, May 1 : Kuwaiti authorities have reopened a complex citizenship fraud case involving 13 individuals of Iraqi origin, including a group of forgers and their falsely registered family members. The case, which dates back to 2016, was initially exposed through DNA testing but later took a political turn, resulting in a temporary restoration of the revoked citizenships before being reversed again in 2024.

The forgery came to light when the Nationality Investigation Department received intelligence that six individuals claimed to belong to two different Kuwaiti tribes, while in fact, they were biological brothers from the same father. The discovery was confirmed through DNA testing, which revealed their true familial ties. One of the forgers was found living with another Iraqi man, who was not merely a housemate but his brother and also linked to the other accused.

Although their Kuwaiti citizenships were revoked in 2016 based on the genetic evidence, a political settlement in 2023 between the government and parliament—reportedly in response to looming parliamentary questioning—led to the reinstatement of their nationalities under a general amnesty.

However, in 2024, the government once again revoked their citizenship after receiving fresh intelligence in 2025 about a seventh brother named Shanawa, who had fled the country the previous July. Authorities detained his wife and children as they attempted to leave Kuwait, and subsequent DNA testing matched them with a 2016 sample belonging to the alleged uncle, who was revealed to be their paternal uncle and the brother of Shanawa, confirming the fraud.

Investigators concluded that all 13 individuals were part of an extended family that falsely claimed tribal affiliations and forged documents to obtain Kuwaiti citizenship. The patriarch, who had assumed the false identity of Shanawa, worked in Kuwait’s oil sector until his retirement in 2016, around the time the case first surfaced. It has since come to light that one of his sons currently works in the oil sector, while another is employed in the National Assembly Secretariat.

The genetic fingerprinting conducted by Kuwait’s forensic experts played a critical role in dismantling the case, offering irrefutable proof that all involved shared the same biological lineage, undermining their forged identities and tribal affiliations.

In parallel, the Supreme Committee on Citizenship held a meeting to review ongoing cases of dual nationality. Among these were cases involving a U.S. citizen and two individuals from neighboring Gulf countries. The committee also considered two cases of individuals who voluntarily renounced their Kuwaiti citizenship to comply with nationality regulations.

Sources confirmed a noticeable rise in the number of people voluntarily surrendering their Kuwaiti nationality, driven by increasing awareness of government crackdowns and efforts to legalize status. Many of these individuals are proactively adjusting their legal standing, acknowledging the tightening regulatory environment and aiming to avoid legal repercussions.

The ongoing investigations underscore Kuwait's firm stance on nationality integrity, signaling a broader government initiative to enforce transparency and crack down on fraudulent naturalization practices.