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Victims claimed they were never given a reason why they were
stripped of their nationality by the GoK. They initially had no
procedural protection or right to appeal. Although a GoK later
established an appeal body, it is not independent. Families are
collectively punished along with men.
130
People who learned of their
revocation from social media
accounts on 2 November 2024.
The GoK used government-linked accounts on social media platforms, such as on
Instagram, to convey revocation decisions, such as the image posted on 2 November 2024
on the Al-Majlliss site (see image). 88 A total of 130 people learned that the GoK revoked
their citizenship in this manner.
British barrister Eric Fripp comparatively examines Kuwaitʼs application of the principle
of proportionality and consistency with international law and found Kuwaitʼs conduct
fundamentally flawed. He concludes that the muted response to it (see Conclusion, below)
“provides another worrying sign of declining confidence in the defence of important norms of
international law.” 89
Samira (pseudonym; see below), formerly Iranian and naturalised through marriage, told
SALAM DHR that as of August 2025, the authorities made no attempt to inform her of the
specific reason or legal basis for the revocation of her nationality and that she “[L]earned
of the general justification via interviews with officials or accounts citing officials carried in the
media.”
Iman (pseudonym; case also featured elsewhere) told SALAM DHR that in December 2024,
her name appeared on an “unpublished list [possibly Kuwait al-Youm, the Official Gazette]”.
Taken together, testimony and other evidence indicates that the GoK conducted and
concluded revocations without prior notice, clear reasons or providing any effective
access to courts prior to or even once the person was notified or became aware. Judicial
oversight was absent, and the GoK made no effort to inform those impacted in a dignified
manner. If the impacted person believed that the GoKʼs decision was based on erroneous
information, the person had no effective way to convey their concern or evidence to
officials. Many individuals learned of the revocation only when their bank accounts were
frozen, salaries stopped, or travel was denied.
While Article 13 sets out clear thematic bases for revocation, in practice, the evidence
used by the GoK to prove fraud, forgery, illegal acquisition or other procedural defects
has been opaque. It is not subject to independent scrutiny, say by a legal representative of
the person impacted. While court cases have, in the past, taken place to challenge the
process of citizenship revocation, as noted above, courts have not acted in a consistent
manner.
DOMESTIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK
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