Suzan El Tahhan Bidoons: A Statelessness Plight in Kuwait ‫مجلة الدراسات القانونية واالقتصادية‬ about it from the very beginning. Some could not read or write, and those who kept no written records could not prove that they meet the legal requirements of the new Nationality Law. Others simply did not care enough about the new concept of nationality, failing to foresee the importance of citizenship in later decades.17 Although Kuwaiti authorities formally describe Bidoons as stateless residents, a large percentage of them were government workers in addition to members of the police and armed forces. They were initially given the same health, education together with social rights as Kuwaiti citizens and were exempted from the residence permit requirements of other non-Kuwaiti residents.18 However, in the period of 1960-1987, the Kuwaiti government amended the Nationality Law several times, each time introducing further restrictions on eligibility. Restrictions that limited the number of naturalizations each year to only 50 persons took place amongst the amendments. A 1980 amendment removed a Kuwaiti woman's ability to transmit her citizenship to her children, while a 1981 amendment specified that only Muslims could qualify for Kuwaiti nationality.19 In addition, the regional political instability during the 1980s and 1990s led the government to significantly shift its policy towards the Bidoons by downgrading their status to that of "illegal residents", revoking benefits, plus excluding them from all government services and most jobs.20 From 1986 onwards, the government began restricting Bidoon’s access to passports. Authorities ceased granting such passports except for those carrying official permits to travel abroad for medical treatment, education, or religious 17 Human Rights Watch, Prisoners of the Past: Kuwaiti Bidoons and the Burden of Statelessness, 13 June 2011, P.12, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4df7191b2.html [accessed 23 December 2015]. 18 United Kingdom: Home Office, Country of Origin Information Report - Kuwait, 29 January 2010, P.48, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4bbb1c712.html [accessed 20 December 2015] 19 Human Rights Watch, Prisoners of the Past: Kuwaiti Bidoons and the Burden of Statelessness, 13 June 2011, P.13, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4df7191b2.html [accessed 23 December 2015]. 20 Ibid 10