Kuwait Strips Citizenship From 3,856

The Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality, headed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Al-Youssef, has announced the revocation, withdrawal, or nullification of Kuwaiti citizenship for 3,856 individuals. These measures were taken due to offenses including national security violations, dual nationality, forgery, and disloyalty to Kuwait. Final decisions are awaiting Council of Ministers' approval.

Breakdown of Violations

The committee's findings revealed the following cases:

• Dual Nationality: 11 cases
• Forgery: 82 cases
• Article 8 Violations: 3,725 cases
• Breach of Loyalty: 38 cases

The breaches of loyalty include:

• “Lions of the Island” Case: 5 individuals
• “Abdali Cell” Case: 22 individuals
• Hezbollah Financing Case: 11 individuals

These cases fall under Article 14, Paragraph 3 of the Kuwaiti Nationality Law, which stipulates revocation of citizenship for actions threatening national security.

Ensuring National Identity and Security

The committee emphasized the importance of safeguarding Kuwait’s national identity by enforcing the law against individuals committing crimes that undermine public order. Acts such as terrorism, weapon use, and financing extremist organizations are considered grave threats, warranting strict penalties including the revocation of citizenship.

Judicial Rulings as the Basis for Action

The decisions were based on final judicial rulings confirming the individuals' guilt. In the “Abdali Cell” case, one fugitive’s citizenship had already been revoked, with others now facing similar action. Similarly, in the “Lions of the Island” case, prior offenders are now subjected to citizenship revocation. Additionally, 11 individuals convicted of financing Hezbollah have had their citizenship annulled following a Court of Cassation ruling.

Impartiality in Decision-Making

The committee assured that these actions are impartial and solely based on the nature of the crimes committed. Citizenship revocation applies only to the convicted individuals, sparing their families and others linked through affiliation.

Uniform Application of the Law

This principle is uniformly applied, regardless of whether the individual is a citizen by birth or naturalization. The decisive factor remains the severity of the crime and the final judicial rulings.