S TAT E L E S S B Y D E C R E E The GCHR cites one such revocation: renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Muthana AlSartawi. He reportedly patented a technique called “A Modified Intervastus Approach for Total Knee Replacement” which reduces pain and enhances recovery in knee and hip replacement surgeries. His accomplishments earned him an audience with the previous Amir of Kuwait. 79 The GoK targeted well known actors - including after their deaths, thereby depriving their successors of Kuwaiti citizenship through no fault of their own. On 2 December 2024, a report citing Kuwaitʼs al-Qabas news platform stated that the GoK revoked the citizenship of actor Dawood Hussain and singer Nawal, who used the stage surname al-Kuwaitiya, the Kuwaiti. 80 The decree revoked the citizenship of their dependents, or successors. The report did not state the total number of people impacted. Former Amir, Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah (Amir between 1977-2006) granted both performers citizenship in October 2001, seemingly under Article 1 of the 1959 Nationality Law: as people who “rendered valuable services to Kuwait”, or the noble deed basis. On 18 August 2025, a report stated that the government “revoked the citizenship of two celebrated actors, Abdulmohsen Al Suhaiel and Abdulrazzaq Ibrahim Al Khalaf, better known as Burzaiqa, despite both men having died years ago”. 81 The former emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the countryʼs formative generation of performers. His work in theatre and television helped establish Kuwait as an early Gulf leader in the performing arts, where Burzaiqa is remembered for comedic work. The government denaturalised their successors and stated that the total number of revocations that day was 365 people but it was not clear that all of these people were the descendents of the two actors. Likewise, government action impacted Kuwaitʼs tribal communities.On 4 June 2025, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) journalist, Zaid Benjamin reported that the government revoked the citizenship of 153 people, comprising the descendents of leaders of the Shammar and Anza tribes (see image). 82 He observed that “The decree specifically targets the descendants and sons of tribal sheikhs from the Shammar and Anza tribes, two tribes widely spread across the Gulf region, as well as Syria, Iraq, and Jordan” and that “Among those whose citizenship was revoked were members of the Jarba clan, a prominent branch of the Shammar tribe, and the Al-Hathal family, linked to the Anza tribe.” Zaid Benjamin added that it was not the first time that the GoK had revoked the citizenship of the children of tribal leaders, noting the revocation of the descendants of Sheikh Mahrot bin Fahd Al-Hathal, the former sheikh of the Anza tribe. The decree did not cite a specific reason for the revocation; Zaid Benjamin noted that previous such decisions cited dual nationality, such as that of Saudi Arabia. 34