Kuwait Revokes Citizenship of 37,000, Mostly Women, in Controversial Identity Reform Drive

In a drastic move, Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of over 37,000 individuals, primarily women who had acquired nationality through marriage.

This action is part of a sweeping reform initiative led by Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, aiming to limit citizenship to those with Kuwaiti bloodlines and redefine national identity amid ongoing political unrest.

Personal Impact of Citizenship Revocation

Lama, a woman in her 50s originally from Jordan, discovered her citizenship was stripped when her credit card was declined during a workout class in Kuwait City.

Her bank account was temporarily frozen due to the revocation. “It was a shock,” said Lama, who has lived lawfully in Kuwait for over two decades.

“To be a law-abiding citizen for more than 20 years and then wake up one day to find out you’re no longer a citizen… that’s not okay at all.”

Emir’s Statement on National Identity

In March, during a televised address to Kuwait’s population of nearly five million—only a third of whom are citizens—the emir vowed to “deliver Kuwait to its original people clean and free from impurities.”

The policy appears to be designed to refine the electorate and restore national identity after extended political challenges.

Widespread Impact and Scope

According to AFP data, over 37,000 people, including at least 26,000 women, have lost their nationality since August. Media reports suggest the actual figure could be higher.

Bader al-Saif, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University, noted, “The volume is definitely unprecedented.”

Existing Stateless Community and Naturalisation Changes

Kuwait already hosts a stateless population of around 100,000 Bidoon, descendants of Bedouin tribes excluded from citizenship at independence in 1961.

The new reforms eliminate naturalisation by marriage, affecting women who became citizens since 1987. Official data indicates 38,505 women were naturalised through marriage from 1993 to 2020.

Notable Citizens Stripped of Nationality

Individuals naturalised for achievements, such as pop singer Nawal The Kuwaiti and actor Dawood Hussain, also lost their citizenship. Amal, a businesswoman who had been Kuwaiti for nearly 20 years, stated, “Overnight, I became stateless.”

Legal Limbo and Dual Nationality Crackdown

Many affected individuals are now in legal uncertainty as they attempt to reclaim former nationalities. Kuwait does not permit dual nationality and has targeted those who gained citizenship via fraudulent documentation.

Mansoureh Mills from Amnesty International said, “The right to nationality is a very basic human right… failure to respect and ensure it can wreak havoc on people’s lives.”

Defining Kuwaiti Nationalism

Analysts believe the reform questions the core of Kuwaiti identity. “I trace it to the notion of identity: who are we as a nation?” said Saif. Researcher Melissa Langworthy commented, “They went after mothers, the heart of the family.”

Political and Social Ramifications

While Kuwait’s parliamentary system is rare in the Gulf, its stratified citizenship structure grants political rights only to those born to Kuwaiti fathers.

After the 1990 Iraq invasion, naturalised citizens gained voting rights after 20 years. Giorgio Cafiero of Gulf State Analytics explained, “The Kuwaiti leadership is possibly seeking to reduce the citizen population in order to shape a smaller, more politically manageable electorate.”

Public Backlash and Evolving Sentiment

Originally welcomed as a crackdown on fraud, public sentiment shifted. A Kuwaiti man whose wife lost her citizenship said, “The government was equating innocent women and fraudsters.”

His wife, a retired civil servant, lost her pension and had a bank loan frozen. “What kind of message are we conveying by inciting racism and treating them unfairly?”

Official Promises and Continued Concerns

Authorities have pledged that affected women will continue to receive social benefits, but they have lost political rights.

The emir had earlier dissolved parliament citing legislative deadlock and halted parts of the constitution shortly after taking office in December 2023.

The reform drive, while framed as a measure to restore national unity and eliminate fraud, has ignited a debate on citizenship rights, nationalism, and the future demographic shape of the Kuwaiti electorate.