Conclusion
The Kuwait Nationality Law is an extremely restrictive law that does not
allow for a legal resolution for residents of Kuwait who have resided there
for reasons related to marriage, work, or absence of other nationality
as part of the stateless population. It is not surprising therefore, that
Kuwait has the highest number of stateless populations, with over
90,000 persons. The problem is now exacerbated with the ongoing
mass stripping of Kuwaiti nationality from thousands of naturalised
people. Most of them have voluntarily revoked their former nationality
before acquiring the Kuwaiti nationality according to the Nationality
Law regulations. Therefore, accessing their right to travel, work, obtain
governmental assistance in seeking health, education, and other basic
rights are now curtailed. It is more concerning that the decision of
revoking nationality cannot be addressed in courts or repealed.
The situation has several implications whether legal, economic, or social.
Those who had their nationality revoked, will not be able to travel, remain
in jobs, or run businesses as they used to. They may have to resort to
illegal means to earn an income or to leave the state. The majority of
those affected are the foreign wives of Kuwaiti citizens, who may not be
able to apply for their former nationality or may have to get a divorce
and reside in their former countries to reclaim their former nationalities.
Kuwaiti constitutional, legal, or economic experts have raised the alarm
against the amendment of the Law and its implications on the society
and the state. However, the government offered a fragmented, least
thought-of measures to address the stateless wives, by promising to
treat them as Kuwaiti citizens but without the reversing the decision on
their nationality. Which made many observers question the rationale of
doing that in the first place. What was also concerning is the fact that
the state went after the same experts and activists who were defending
against these measures, therefore, forcing them to remain silent or leave
the country.
22
Kuwait: Amendments to Kuwaiti Nationality Law
pose serious threats to human rights