KUWAIT CITY, Nov 27: The issue of preserving Kuwaiti national identity continues to be a top priority, with authorities taking rigorous measures to address cases of citizenship forgery.

Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, who also chairs the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality, confirmed during an appearance on the “60 Minutes” program on Al-Akhbar Channel that citizenship withdrawal and revocation fi les are being reviewed with meticulous precision.

The committee holds weekly meetings (every Thursday) to evaluate these cases, following a detailed study conducted by the Nationality Department and a preliminary review by the Council of Ministers.

The following are the key developments:

Rigorous Investigations — Colonel Abdulaziz Al-Amiri, Director of the Nationality Investigations Department, highlighted the complexity of uncovering forgery cases, especially those involving documents that are decades old.

External and internal correspondences are often required to verify claims, particularly when the forgery involves foreign entities.

Impact of Loopholes — Loopholes in the Nationality Law, such as those allowing the naturalization of Kuwaiti wives under Article 8, have been exploited. Al-Amiri revealed statistics showing that women from 66 different nationalities were naturalized under this article.

Cases of forgery related to “unknown parentage” and fraudulent birth registrations outside Kuwait were also identified. Technological Advancements — The adoption of biometric fingerprinting has significantly enhanced the ability to detect forgeries and duplication. For instance, discrepancies in fingerprints uncovered cases of dual identities and forged citizenship.

Widespread Forgery Cases — A single individual was found to have facilitated citizenship for 132 people, with 56 of them fraudulently employed, costing the state over KD 400,000 annually.

One woman obtained citizenship under two separate articles using dual identities, allowing her to access additional social welfare benefits.

Statistics and Future Measures — Colonel Turki Al-Sabah, Assistant Director of the Nationality Department, disclosed that 4,447 individuals have had their citizenship withdrawn or revoked as of now, with investigations ongoing and numbers expected to rise.

Amendments to the Nationality Law have addressed previous loopholes, including suspending the automatic naturalization of Kuwaiti spouses.

Authorities stressed that reviewing nationality files is a meticulous, multistage process requiring extensive research and verification.

Public cooperation and the strengthening of department capabilities have been crucial in intensifying these efforts. The government remains committed to addressing all cases of forgery to safeguard Kuwait’s national identity and legal integrity.

Meanwhile, Colonel Turki Mishaal Al-Sabah, Assistant Director of the Nationality Department at the Ministry of Interior, has stated that foreign wives of Kuwaiti citizens are no longer automatically naturalized and any new loopholes identified in the future will be addressed, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

He explained the criteria for loss or withdrawal of nationality applies to those who voluntarily acquire foreign citizenship; naturalized individuals who obtained it fraudulently, engaged in acts against public order or national interests, or were convicted of crimes compromising honor or integrity. This is in addition to dependents of these individuals may also face withdrawal.

He further detailed exclusions under Article 5, which includes naturalization based on noble deeds, at the discretion of the HH the Amir; individuals born to Kuwaiti mothers; individuals registered in the 1965 census awaiting decrees for naturalization.

Colonel Al-Sabah also pointed to instances of fraud, such as divorced women remarrying their former spouses abroad to secure citizenship for their children and cases involving forged census data or illegal residency.

He stressed that negligence in registering a child’s birth or obtaining their citizenship could lead to criminal investigations, child neglect charges and denial of the child’s citizenship rights. The Colonel underscored the importance of vigilance and compliance with nationality laws to uphold the integrity of citizenship records in Kuwait.

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff