Today, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) released a report entitled, “Amendments to Kuwaiti Nationality Law pose serious threats to human rights”. In the report’s introduction, GCHR notes, “The changes in the Kuwaiti Nationality Law, so far, have exacerbated the problem of stateless persons (Bedoon) in Kuwait, who number over 92,000, at one of the highest numbers in the world.” This report highlights the Nationality Law’s main amendments.
The report also discusses “the implications on those who were stripped of their nationality, in terms of social and economic impact, access to life-saving healthcare, mobility and ability to resort to legal means.” In addition, the report highlights the reaction of Kuwaiti civil society and activists on the implications of such amendments, and cases of Human Rights Defenders, inside or outside Kuwait, “who were severely affected for advocating against the amendments and the revocation of citizenship rights.”
It also stresses that “the Kuwait Nationality Law is an extremely restrictive law that does not allow for a legal resolution for residents of Kuwait who have resided there for reasons related to marriage, work, or absence of other nationality as part of the stateless population. It is not surprising therefore, that Kuwait has the highest number of stateless populations, with over 90,000 persons. The problem is now exacerbated with the ongoing mass stripping of Kuwaiti nationality from thousands of naturalised people. Most of them have voluntarily revoked their former nationality before acquiring the Kuwaiti nationality according to the Nationality Law regulations. Therefore, accessing their right to travel, work, obtain governmental assistance in seeking health, education, and other basic rights are now curtailed. It is more concerning that the decision of revoking nationality cannot be addressed in courts or repealed.”
The report describes GCHR’s deep concern toward “the rise in using legal measures against naturalised persons and the creation of an additional class of stateless people in Kuwait with no rights.”
Therefore, GCHR calls the Kuwaiti government to:
- Reconsider the amendments made to the Nationality Law and allow for legal experts to examine the amendments according to the Kuwaiti Constitution and international standards;
- Suspend and reverse all the decisions made by the state of stripping naturalised people of their Kuwaiti nationality, considering the dire implications on the state and society;
- Join the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol to address the stateless population’s needs and concerns;
- Adopt a national asylum legislation and ensure due process for stateless persons; and
- Ensure that Kuwaiti citizens are protected to express their opinions and advocate for their rights without fear of harm or reprisals.
To read the full report click here.
