Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Yousef Al-Sumait is working quietly, but with utmost dedication to achieve the vision of developing laws in accordance with the directive of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Minister quoted His Highness the Amir as saying, “I give you the green light to amend the legislative system.” This directive indicates that the state is proceeding with well-considered steps to modernize its institutions and legislation in line with modernization in all sectors. The ongoing legal workshop includes carrying out a tedious task. Most laws were enacted decades ago, some as far back as 1961, or even before the independence of Kuwait. Many laws require upgrading.
The legislative process will continue until all laws are updated within the deadline set by Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait -- the end of December 2027. Legislative amendments fall within the general framework established by the political leadership for the development of the state as a whole. This is proceeding along multiple lines and in all sectors, not just within a certain ministry. Therefore, the Cabinet’s decision, for example, to grant several privileges to the children of Kuwaiti women whose citizenship was revoked is viewed through the lens of the need to bolster internal social stability in order to keep pace with external conditions. Based on this, it is preferable to extend these privileges to all those who lost their citizenship, as well as the illegal residents (Bedouns). These individuals constitute a large segment of the population, so tightening restrictions on them could lead to social problems and crimes.
The only solution that could spare Kuwait much trouble is to create conditions that allow them to rectify their legal status by granting them passports, as it is done for the children of Kuwaiti women and others whose citizenship was revoked, and allowing them to travel and work in any country. Some could rectify their status by regaining their parents’ citizenship in the countries they came from, provided that investigations into their circumstances are thorough. The repercussions of citizenship revocation created social problems and put more pressure on the Bedouns, as their number has increased. This necessitates finding solutions that strengthen social and economic security and improve the reputation of Kuwait internationally.
The issue of stateless persons (Bedouns) has long been in dire need of solution. At the beginning of the problem, specifically in the 1960s, the number of Bedouns did not exceed 10,000. Today, their number surpassed 100,000 due to natural increase, marriage and birth. Many Bedouns wish to move to any country to live and work freely. A huge percentage of them are highly qualified in fields that are in demand in the labor market. Granting them passports will enable them to shed the stateless status that plagues their lives, and then facilitate their acquisition of citizenship in other countries.
Certainly, sovereign rights, including the revocation of citizenship, are not subject to debate, as they are part of the constitutional rights of His Highness the Amir, which everyone must respect. The head of state issues directives to ministers, assistants and state employees to uphold justice in the performance of their duties. The third Caliph, Othman ibn Affan, established a golden rule: “Allah restrains through authority (by the ruler or by power) what He does not restrain through the Quran (preaching).”
This principle is valid at all times, and it is upon this principle that nations progress. What Minister Nasser Al-Sumait conveyed on behalf of His Highness the Amir falls within this framework, urging all government officials to provide facilities for all those whose citizenship was revoked and those referred as ‘Bedouns’. The modernization of the state begins with maintaining social stability, which is reflected in the economy, politics and public security.
