Kuwait approves citizenship law amendments stripping naturalised citizens of political rights

Kuwait's cabinet has endorsed legislation altering citizenship rules to deny political rights to naturalized residents, according to state-run news agency reports on Tuesday. The proposed amendments would invalidate citizenship if someone falsely adds an individual to the citizenship records, or if another person falsely adds someone who is not a child or descendant.

The Supreme Committee for Kuwaiti Citizenship Investigation or a final court decision would have the authority to revoke citizenship in such cases. If the children or descendants of the affected person were aware of the false addition, their citizenship could also be revoked.

These measures are part of Kuwait's ongoing review of citizenship files, which have led to the stripping of nationality from thousands of individuals over the past two years. In June alone, 2,192 people had their citizenship revoked. The draft law would also introduce an electronic Kuwaiti citizenship certificate, issued by the Interior Minister, with the same legal validity as the traditional paper certificate.

Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al Sabah chaired the cabinet meeting where the draft decree-law was approved. The Emir, Sheikh Meshal, has been referred the proposal for final consideration. The controversial proposal has come amid a sweeping review of nationality files nationwide, leaving "no one exempt." Kuwait has a population of approximately 4.5 million residents, with only about 1.5 million citizens.