Kuwait Revokes Illegal Citizenship Of Nearly 50 Thousand People

Kuwaiti illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Hayley Mikealson)

JAKARTA - The Kuwaiti authorities have revoked the citizenship of nearly 50,000 people in an attempted crackdown on claims of illegal citizenship, the country's top officials said.

Wakil Perdana Menteri Pertama Kuwait sekaligus Menteri Dalam Negeri Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al Sabah mengatakan, koordinasi dengan beberapa negara telah membantu mengungkap banyak "pemalsu".

"All citizenship files in Kuwait are being reviewed and subject to detailed examinations without exception," he told the Al Qabas newspaper, quoted from The National 11 August.

When asked whether lawmakers and ministers who are in office or former lawmakers and ministers are being reviewed by the Kuwaiti Citizenship Highest Committee, Sheikh Fahad replied firmly: "All Kuwait is being reviewed".

The Supreme Committee, which was formed more than a year ago, is examining cases to determine who has legal claims for Kuwaiti citizenship. In some cases, the names of those whose citizenship was revoked have been published.

The newspaper reported nearly 50,000 citizenship had been revoked since the campaign escalated this year, citing a ministerial statement also revealing a new version of the Kuwaiti citizenship document would soon be introduced in electronic form.

It is known that Kuwait does not allow dual citizenship, Those who acquire Kuwaiti citizenship must give up their original citizenship. The current population of Kuwait is around five million people, with a significant majority being foreign nationals.

Although the main purpose of this campaign is to revoke forger citizenship, other cases have also been targeted. In July, state news agencies reported an individual was revoked for the sake of the country's "higher interest", citing the committee's statement.