Falsified Kuwaiti Citizenship Costs Kuwait Millions

27/11/2024

Falsified Kuwaiti Citizenship Costs Kuwait Millions

Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 27: In a televised interview on Al-Akhbar Channel's "60 Minutes" program, Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef confirmed that the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality is meticulously reviewing citizenship files. The committee, comprising senior officials including the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, collaborates with the General Department of Nationality to investigate cases of citizenship withdrawal, cancellation, and loss.

Sheikh Fahad highlighted that the Nationality Department pre-assesses all files under review before they are presented to the Council of Ministers. The initiative aims to uphold Kuwait’s national identity and ensure the integrity of its citizenship system.

Colonel Mohammed Al-Mazid, director of the Technical Office Department, emphasized the Ministry of Interior’s commitment to safeguarding national identity through rigorous evaluations of citizenship files. Colonel Abdulaziz Al-Amiri, Director of the Research and Follow-Up Department, described forgers' ties to the country as purely materialistic and detailed how investigative processes uncover falsified claims.

Colonel Turki Al-Sabah, Assistant Director of the Nationality Department, revealed that 4,447 citizenship revocation cases have been recorded, resulting from confirmed instances of forgery or legal violations. He noted that biometric technology has played a pivotal role in uncovering fraudulent cases, including instances where individuals posed as siblings but were biologically cousins, verified through DNA testing.

Highlights from the Interview:

Sophisticated Forgery Tactics: Cases include falsified birth certificates for fictitious children and individuals obtaining dual nationalities fraudulently.
Financial Impact: A group of forgers cost the state nearly 400,000 Kuwaiti dinars annually in salaries and benefits.
Complex Investigations: Some files date over 50 years, requiring extensive research and evidence gathering.
Administrative Measures: Individuals whose citizenship is revoked are issued temporary IDs reflecting their original nationalities until their status is regularized.
Reforms and Loopholes: Recent amendments to the Nationality Law aim to close loopholes, ensuring stricter controls and enhanced accountability.

The committee also uncovered cases of women who had been naturalized twice under different identities and were receiving state aid under fictitious names. Citizens have reportedly been instrumental in providing crucial information to aid these investigations.

Sheikh Fahad assured that the Supreme Committee thoroughly investigates each case to maintain fairness and transparency. The government remains steadfast in its commitment to preserving Kuwait’s national identity and comprehensively addressing cases of forgery.