Nationality and Cases of Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa happens elsewhere as well. Using the similar justification of ‘threats to nationality security’, the Emirates have denationalized tens of its own citizens. These decisions are without appeal as it is iillegal to file a plea against the Ministry of Interior’s decision - revoking citizenship was an implementation of the Presidential decision. Revocation decisions are not subject to appeal in Kuwait either.168 In Kuwaiti nationality law, individuals and their dependents can be stripped of citizenship on various grounds, including if it “involves the higher interests of the state or its foreign security,” or the individual has “promoted principles that will undermine the social or economic system of the country.” In 2014 alone, 33 Kuwaitis lost their citizenship based on this broad and ambigous criteria. Again, in both Kuwait and the Emirates, the figures continue to rise.169 The Gulf region as a whole has always had a unique position with regards to its relationship with nationality. The use of citizenship as a political and/ or demographic tool – not just to exclude certain groups, but also the reverse - is not a new concept. In the years that followed Kuwaiti independence in 168 - Financial Times, UAE revokes citizenship of seven Islamists, 2011, access athttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1b8b4e84-2bf0-11e1-b194-00144feabdc0. html#axzz3uxSxLQ81 169 - Human Rights Watch, Kuwait: Government Critics Stripped of Citizenship, 2014, access at https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/10/19/kuwait-governmentcritics-stripped-citizenship 126