I WISH those who boast about the naive saying “born of her womb” (referring to original native Kuwaiti citizens) would take the time to understand its meaning, why it was used in some neighboring countries, and for what purpose. This boastful attitude should ideally serve Kuwait, its people, and its history. However, the reality is that it is a hollow boast, one that does more harm than good. It divides rather than unites and reflects a complete disregard for the spirit of tolerance on which Kuwait was built 400 years ago. Kuwait has long strived to instill a sense of humanity, which has grown into a rich cultural tradition.
These values of openness and Kuwait’s cultural message to the Arab world are what we should truly take pride in. From a sociological standpoint, every person born on a particular land is considered a “child of that land” if the reference is to the place of birth, not nationality. This is why the universal legal principle holds that “everyone born in the airspace of any country or on board any aircraft acquires its nationality.” Unfortunately, some ignorant statements have recently gained traction, threatening to tear apart the social fabric and undermine national unity. This is happening at a time when we need solidarity and unity the most, not division, especially amid extremely sensitive international and regional circumstances, where major powers are actively seeking to fragment the region.
Meanwhile, these ignorant voices are creating a rift within society. They have ignored the principles laid out by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad in his inspiring speeches about the importance of national unity. They also fail to recognize the implications of their words. Kuwait is home to citizens of nearly 200 nationalities, with hundreds of individuals born here each year. All of these individuals can be described as “born in Kuwait” since they were born here, but they hold the nationalities of their respective countries. That is why we must put things into perspective and speak frankly. When the new era began its efforts to purify national identity, the lofty goal was never to oppress anyone, but rather to establish justice and uphold the law. The aim was to halt the downward trend caused by tampering with identity documents and to limit those who obtained Kuwaiti citizenship through fraudulent means for personal gain, not for the benefit of the country. As a result, we have seen cases of dual nationals, forgers, and pretenders who sought citizenship using false information and fraudulent registration of children who were not biologically theirs. These cases, however, remain rare, regardless of their number.
On this basis, it is shameful that this issue has become a source of societal division. Instead, it should serve as a lesson in strengthening national unity, not as a catalyst for hateful incitement. People must refrain from using offensive labels to describe others. The truth is, many of those who have lived on this land have served Kuwait more than those who boast of being “born in its womb”.
In fact, some of those who lived on Kuwaiti soil sacrificed their blood for it, never claiming to be “born in its womb”. In moments of sacrifice, all souls are equal. When many defended Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion, working tirelessly for seven months until it was liberated, they did not inquire about a person’s sect or whether they were from within or outside the walls of Kuwait. They were defending a homeland they believed in.
Yes, Kuwait’s liberation was not the result of boasting about being a “born child”, but rather due to Kuwait’s long standing tolerance toward all, the good it has shared with the world, its relief of injustice for the needy, and its establishment of relations with the entire world based on non-interference in the affairs of others. In addition, Kuwait’s Constitution prohibits discrimination in all its forms.
Article 29 states: “All people are equal in human dignity and are equal before the law in public rights and duties. There shall be no discrimination among them on the basis of race, origin, language, or religion.” Today, we must manage our affairs in a way that keeps Kuwait apart from the conflicts in the region and the world. With a population of only 1.2 million, we are a small country facing many challenges that must be addressed together.
We must also remember that this population is supported by 3.5 million expatriates. In every household, there are five or six non-Kuwaitis working to serve its people. They manage basic services like electricity and water, as well as the medical, commercial, investment, and other sectors. They are residents, unlike those who claim to be “born of her womb” and sit comfortably, categorizing others based on ignorance, which is rejected by all human values.
Justice, which involves granting people their rights without discrimination, is the hallmark of the new era. So, where did this naive, foolish, and divisive statement come from? The question remains: What have you, the naive ones, offered Kuwait to be distinguished from others?
