S TAT E L E S S B Y D E C R E E
Endnotes
32. United Nations, Human Rights Council, Fi�y-third Session - Resolution adopted by the
Human Rights Council on 13 July 2023, 53/16. The right to a nationality: equality in
nationality rights in law and in practice, 19 June-14 July 2023, https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/
RES/53/16#:~:text=remain%20unresolved%20to%20this%20day,
and%20may%20pose%20a%20barrier , accessed 12 November 2025
33. See Appendix 3 - Civil society condemnation of the GoKʼs citizenship stripping
campaign.
34. Constitute Project - (Constitution of) Kuwait, 1962 (reinst. 1992), at https://www.
constituteproject.org/constitution/Kuwait_1992, accessed 1 May 2025. Article 4 asserts that
Kuwait is a “hereditary Amirate” based on the rulership of Mubarak al-Sabah (1837-1915),
while Article 6 asserts that the “system of government is democratic” and that sovereignty
is “vested in the nation”. Article 7 states that “Justice, freedom and quality are the pillars of
society [...]”, which Article 8 bolsters by asserting that the State shall “Preserve the pillars of
society and shall guarantee security, tranquility and equal opportunity to all citizens.”
35. Aziz Abu-Hamad / Human Rights Watch - The Bidoons of Kuwait / Citizens without
Citizenship, August 1995, https://www.hrw.org/reports/1995/Kuwait.htm , accessed 19 June
2022. The report adds:
“It cites international instruments such as the Hague Conventions of 1930 as granting states
full discretion in determining who should be their nationals. However, while this principle
is accepted as a general rule167, it has been also widely accepted that certain limits do
pertain to this discretion.168 For example, limitations are set on involuntary termination of
nationality, both to prevent statelessness and in recognition that denationalization can be
an instrument of discrimination based on race, color, gender, language, religion, political
or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.169”
36. Aspects of the engagement with the then Prime Minister are reflected in Amnesty
International - Kuwait: The ʻWithoutsʼ of Kuwait: Nationality for stateless Bidun now, 16
September 2013, at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde17/001/2013/en/ , accessed
26 November 2025
37. UK Government - Home Office - Upper Tribunal - Immigration and Asylum Chamber Kuwait CG / country guidance [2013] UKUT 00356(IAC), NM - documented/undocumented
Bidoon: risk, published 24 July 2013, https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/38984 ,
accessed 20 December 2025
38. The Times / Kuwait - Decree issued amending Article (16) of Kuwaiti nationality law, 31
December 2024, https://timeskuwait.com/decree-issued-amending-article-16-of-kuwaitinationality-law/, accessed 16 December 2025
39. On the 1959 law, see UNHCR / Refworld - Kuwait Nationality Law, , Refworld, https://
www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1959/en/17674, accessed 20 November 2025
40. UK Government - Home Office - Upper Tribunal - Immigration and Asylum Chamber Kuwait CG / country guidance [2013] UKUT 00356(IAC), NM - documented/undocumented
Bidoon: risk, published 24 July 2013, https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/38984 ,
accessed 20 December 2025
76
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents