Kuwait revokes 1,060 citizenship claims in largest-ever fraud crackdown

Time of India

4 days ago

Kuwaiti authorities intensify nationality investigations, revoking over 1,000 citizenships linked to forgery and fraud as part of a broader crackdown/Representative Image
TL;DR:
In July 2025, Kuwait's nationality committee stripped 1,060 individuals of citizenship in a crackdown described as the largest of its kind.
The fraud involved forged identity records, fabricated family trees, and dual-nationality schemes spanning decades.
Investigations relied on DNA tests, audits, and cooperation with
Gulf
governments. This operation forms part of a broader purge that has seen over 40,000 citizenships revoked since early 2024.
Kuwait has launched a historic operation against citizenship fraud, revoking nationality from more than 1,060 people in July 2025, a move authorities hail as the most extensive such action in the country's history.
Rooted in decades-old falsified records and forged family claims, this case reflects a broader campaign to reinforce national identity and correct systemic abuse of Kuwaiti citizenship.
A Deep-Seated Fraud Network
The Supreme Committee for Kuwaiti Nationality Investigations, working alongside the Ministry of Interior's Nationality Investigation Department, found elaborate falsification in multiple cases, a local news outlet Al Rai reported.
One involved a man born in 1956, who purportedly added 44 children and 122 dependents to his citizenship file later disproved via DNA testing. Another case surfacing during the same operation involved a deceased person born in 1940, under whose identity 440 individuals had fraudulently acquired nationality.
This sweeping action targeted fraudsters exploiting citizenship rules to access benefits such as social welfare, education, and state employment.
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Enforcement Through Forensic Precision
Authorities reviewed decades' worth of civil records and conducted extensive DNA sampling and cross-border verification with other Gulf states. The process, spanning cases from 2000 to 2025, included reopening dormant investigations, some dating back as far as 2008 highlighting both the scale and institutional persistence of this fraud.
Legal Outcomes & Punishments
Kuwaiti courts have already sentenced individuals to lengthy prison terms.
In a pivotal mid-July 2025 ruling, three accused fraudsters received seven years plus hard labour, alongside fines amounting to over KWD 473,000 (≈ USD 1.5 million) for forging documents and illegally securing citizen benefits.
Lawsuits continue, with authorities moving to revoke additional citizenships and cross-reference the broader population for anomalies.
This July operation follows a wider purge that began in early 2024 under a renewed nationality review campaign.
By March 2025, Kuwait had revoked citizenship from approximately 42,000 individuals, including those who had obtained nationality via marriage or dubious naturalization.
The government maintains these measures are vital for eliminating corruption and protecting national resources; opponents argue the revocations including for thousands of women legally married to citizens—raise concerns of statelessness and human rights violations.
Public Debate & Rights Implications
International observers and rights advocates, including the Carnegie Endowment, have voiced deep concern about the broad application of revocations, absent judicial appeal. Most citizenships lost since 2024 occurred under Article 8 of the nationality law, particularly affecting women naturalized through marriage.
The resulting lack of legal recourse and limited transparency has also prompted concerns about potential discrimination and due-process violations.
What Comes Next?
Kuwait's Supreme Nationality Committee is continuing its investigations, reportedly revisiting over 200 suspected Syrian-linked cases in cooperation with Damascus. On the legal side, financial penalties and prison sentences are being pursued. Meanwhile, many of the revoked face uncertain living conditions, and some expatriate communities fear further reviews.
Kuwait's purge reflects a regional trend of tightening nationality controls.
Formal denaturalization is rare globally, but within the Gulf it is increasingly used for social, political, and demographic control.
Unlike other states that require judicial review, Kuwait allows executive revocation with minimal appeal avenues, raising alarms among human rights organisations.
Conclusion
In July 2025, Kuwait executed its most extensive citizenship fraud sweep to date revoking over 1,060 nationalities within a campaign that has stripped more than 40,000 citizens since early 2024. No amount of forgery appears too sophisticated in the face of newfound investigative rigour involving DNA testing, legal scrutiny, and cross-border cooperation. While the government positions the crackdown as essential to preserving integrity, critics argue it raises significant human rights concerns.