KUWAIT CITY, Dec 30: Coinciding with the issuance of Decree No. 217 of 2024, which revoked Kuwaiti citizenship from 2,087 women granted citizenship under the repealed Article 8 of the Nationality Law, informed sources revealed significant updates on citizenship reviews, reports Al-Seyassah daily. According to Al-Seyassah, the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Citizenship, active since its formation last May, has decided to withdraw, revoke, or annul citizenship for 18,775 individuals.

These cases include those who obtained citizenship by dependency based on various articles of the Nationality Law. Sources confirmed the issuance of higher instructions to ensure that individuals whose citizenship was revoked under Article 8 are not deprived of privileges typically accorded to Kuwaiti women. These measures aim to remove obstacles and facilitate access to services.

December marked the highest number of citizenship withdrawals, with 11,805 cases, representing 63 percent of the total decisions since August. November accounted for 5,870 cases, October for 820, September for 202, and August for only 78 cases. This trend is expected to continue into January as thousands of files remain under review. In a related development, individuals whose citizenship was revoked under Article 8 received text messages from banks confirming that restrictions on their accounts had been lifted.

This follows a pledge by First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah during his open meeting last Wednesday with newspaper editors and public benefit societies. The messages stated that all banking services, including cash withdrawals, electronic payments, and other transactions, have been reactivated, ensuring these individuals can access their accounts without hindrance.