02/11/2025
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02/11/2025
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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 2: The Kuwaiti government has issued two decrees and one ministerial decision ordering the withdrawal of Kuwaiti citizenship from a total of 15 individuals, in accordance with the provisions of the Kuwaiti Citizenship Law.
Details of the Decrees and Decisions
According to official sources, the first decree withdraws Kuwaiti citizenship from two individuals, while the second decree orders the revocation of citizenship from ten individuals, along with those who had obtained Kuwaiti nationality through dependency — meaning their citizenship was granted based on their relationship to the primary holder, such as spouses or children.
In addition, a separate ministerial decision was issued to withdraw the citizenship certificates of three individuals, as well as that of anyone who had acquired Kuwaiti nationality with them by dependency.
All three actions — the two decrees and the decision — were issued pursuant to Article 21 (bis a) of Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959 concerning the Kuwaiti Citizenship Law and its subsequent amendments.
Legal Basis for Citizenship Withdrawal
Article 21 (bis a) of the Citizenship Law provides that:
“The Kuwaiti citizenship shall be withdrawn if it is found to have been obtained unlawfully, based on fraud, false statements, or incorrect certificates.”
This legal provision empowers the authorities to revoke nationality in cases where it is proven that citizenship was acquired through deception, falsified documents, or misrepresentation of facts during the application or approval process.
It also allows for the automatic withdrawal of citizenship from any dependents — such as family members — who acquired nationality through the same unlawful process, ensuring that all associated certificates are nullified.
Background and Implications
The withdrawal of nationality in such cases is part of Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to preserve the integrity of citizenship and ensure that it is granted only to those who meet the legal and procedural requirements.
While the names of the affected individuals were not disclosed, the issuance of these decrees reflects the government’s continued enforcement of the Citizenship Law, particularly its provisions addressing fraudulent or irregular naturalizations.
Under Kuwaiti law, the loss of nationality carries significant consequences, including the loss of civil, political, and social rights associated with citizenship, as well as potential residency implications for those affected and their dependents.
