Kuwait Revokes Citizenship of Over 2,000 Women

Kuwait has taken a significant step in its ongoing efforts to streamline its citizenship regulations by revoking the citizenship of 2,087 women. This move comes under Decree No. 217 of 2024, impacting women who acquired their citizenship through dependency, among others.

This decision is rooted in the Kuwaiti Nationality Law, specifically Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959, and follows the recommendations of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. The revocations are part of broader initiatives by the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Citizenship, which has been reviewing cases since May.

Citizenship Revocations: A Growing Trend

Since its formation, the Supreme Committee has been scrutinizing the cases of individuals who obtained citizenship through various articles of the Nationality Law. As of now, the committee has withdrawn, revoked, or annulled the citizenship of 18,775 individuals, with a particularly high volume of cases in recent months.

December saw the highest number of revocations, with 11,805 cases making up 63% of the total decisions since August. Other months have seen smaller numbers: November with 5,870 cases, October with 820, September with 202, and August with 78 cases. The trend is expected to continue into January as the committee continues to review a large number of files.

Measures to Protect Affected Women

In a bid to ease the impact of this sweeping decision, higher authorities have ensured that women whose citizenship was revoked under Article 8 will still be able to access the basic rights and privileges typically afforded to Kuwaiti citizens. This includes their access to essential services and rights, which will be safeguarded to avoid any significant disruptions in their daily lives.

Financial Repercussions and Support

In a related update, individuals affected by the revocations have started receiving notifications from banks confirming that restrictions on their accounts have been lifted. This development helps mitigate some of the financial concerns faced by those impacted by the citizenship revocations.

As Kuwait continues its efforts to tighten regulations on citizenship, these recent actions mark a pivotal moment in the nation's ongoing review of its nationality policies. The country remains focused on addressing irregularities and ensuring that citizenship is granted in a fair and transparent manner.