Kathmandu. Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of 37,000 people in a shocking move. Most of them are women who get citizenship through marriage.
Some of them have been living in Kuwait for more than 20 years. Many came to know about this only when they reached their regular work.
Nira (name changed), a 50-year-old from Jordan, came to know about this during her weekly workout class. When his credit card payment was rejected. His bank account has been temporarily frozen as his citizenship has been revoked.
Nira is shocked now. Fearing kuvedi officials, she requested AFP not to use her real name. “After being a law-abiding citizen for more than 20 years, you wake up one morning and find out that you are no longer a citizen,” she said. It’s not right at all. ’
At least 26,000 of kuwait’s 37,000 citizens are women. However, some media reports suggest that the actual number may be higher. Badal Al-Saif, a professor of history at Kuwait University, said, “While the mass cancellation of citizenship in Kuwait is not new, this number is certainly unprecedented. ’
Kuwait’s move is part of the regime’s reform initiative led by Emir Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Its purpose is to limit nationality to the relationship of Kuwaiti blood and to reshape Kuwaiti identity. Analysts say the citizenship policy aims to potentially narrow voters by limiting the nationality of oil-rich countries to blood ties. ’
Five months after taking office in December 2023, Amir Sheikh Meshaal dissolved parliament and suspended parts of the constitution.
Kuwait already has a stateless community of about 100,000 people. Bidun is an Arab minority. Who came from a nomadic tribe called Bedouin living in Kuwait. When Kuwait became independent in 1961, biduns were not included as citizens. – Agency
