Kuwait revokes citizenship of 2,087 women

Dubai: Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of 2,087 women, including those who acquired it by dependency, under Decree No. 217 of 2024.

The move, based on Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959 regarding the Kuwaiti Nationality Law, follows recommendations by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

The decree coincides with ongoing efforts by the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Citizenship, which has been reviewing cases since its formation in May.

According to local reports, the committee has so far decided to withdraw, revoke, or annul citizenship for 18,775 individuals, targeting those who obtained citizenship under various articles of the Nationality Law.
Thousands under review

December witnessed the highest number of revocations, with 11,805 cases, representing 63 per cent of the total decisions since August.

November accounted for 5,870 cases, October for 820, September for 202, and August for 78 cases. The trend is expected to continue into January as thousands of files remain under review.
Sources said that higher directives have been issued to ensure that women whose citizenship was revoked under Article 8 are not deprived of their basic rights and privileges typically granted to Kuwaiti women. These measures aim to mitigate obstacles and facilitate their access to essential services.

In a related development, individuals affected by the revocations have reportedly received text messages from banks confirming that restrictions on their accounts have been lifted.