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

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

Time of India4 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.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think
Villas In Dubai | Search Ads
Get Quote
Undo
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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘ATS ruined my life,' says doc out of jail after 19yrs
‘ATS ruined my life,' says doc out of jail after 19yrs

Time of India

time18 minutes ago

  • Time of India

‘ATS ruined my life,' says doc out of jail after 19yrs

Mumbai: "I was part of the Red Crescent Society of India team that worked during the Bhuj earthquake in 2001. My job is to save lives, not to kill people..." said Dr Tanvir Ansari (50), who spent 19 years in prison, and was released from Amravati jail on Monday after Bombay high court acquitted him and 11 others in the 11/7 Mumbai train bombing cases. A resident of Agipada, Ansari was termed a conspirator in the bombing case. "...We are also victims of terrorism. The investigation by ATS is injustice to us and to those who died and were injured. The real perpetrators are still free," Ansari told TOI at Jamiat-ul-Ulema-Hind's office at Dongri on Thursday. "We are with those who lost their loved ones or were injured in the blast." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Ansari was in charge of the ICU at Saboo Siddique Hospital in south Mumbai. Talking about the saddest days in prison, he said, "I couldn't treat my own mother who was admitted to our hospital's ICU. She passed away in 2007. The ATS tortured us and threatened our families. I was hit with sticks and chappals. The ATS offered me Rs 25 lakh and a flat to become an approver. I refused. I had no involvement in the blasts case," Ansari said, tears rolling down his cheeks. His wife was three months pregnant when he was arrested. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo Ansari got the news of the birth of his daughter while he was in jail. "I held my daughter in my arms a year and half after she was born. My wife went through so many difficulties, and my daughter was raised without me for 19 years," he said, going on to add with pride that his daughter wants to study medicine. "Crime branch officers dragged me from the hospital, tore my apron, and kept me in illegal custody for several days in 2006. The ATS showed me as 'arrested' later." He further said, "We were subjected to narco, brain-mapping, and lie-detector tests, but ATS didn't find anything in the tests. It wanted to show everyone that they were doing scientific probes, but it was just to cover their fake investigation." While in prison, Ansari completed a certificate course in disaster management, completed his BA and MA degrees in political science. "I want to tell the ATS that you have ruined my life, now you help me get a job," said Ansari, who worked as an assistant in Amravati jail's hospital and treated patients during 2022 and 2024. A case had also been registered against him in 2001 for his alleged association with the banned organisation SIMI. He pointed out that he had been acquitted in this case in 2012.

Agencies will continue to work closely: PM Modi on extradition of economic offenders from UK
Agencies will continue to work closely: PM Modi on extradition of economic offenders from UK

Time of India

time19 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Agencies will continue to work closely: PM Modi on extradition of economic offenders from UK

With India seeking extradition of a number of billionaire fugitives from the UK, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the concerned agencies of the two sides will continue to work in "close" coordination and cooperation on the matter. The prime minister made the remarks after meeting his British counterpart Keir Starmer at Chequers , the countryside residence of the British PM. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Project Management Healthcare Management Design Thinking Public Policy CXO MBA Degree Cybersecurity Others Digital Marketing healthcare Artificial Intelligence Data Science Product Management PGDM Data Science Technology Operations Management Leadership Finance Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details "On the matter of extradition of economic offenders as well, our agencies will continue to work together in close coordination and cooperation," Modi said in his media statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon at Night – Cardiologists Stunned by the Results Weight Loss News Click Here India has been raising with the UK the issue of extradition of economic offenders such as Vijay Mallya , Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi . Nirav Modi, the fugitive diamond merchant, is wanted in India to stand trial on fraud and money laundering charges in an estimated USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan scam case. Live Events Mallya, who fled to the United Kingdom in March 2016, is wanted in India over a default of Rs 9,000 crore that was loaned to Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) by several banks. Lalit Modi is also wanted by Indian probe agencies for his alleged involvement in money laundering and violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA).

Six get life-term in two separate murder cases in Aurangabad
Six get life-term in two separate murder cases in Aurangabad

Time of India

time31 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Six get life-term in two separate murder cases in Aurangabad

Aurangabad: Two separate courts in Aurangabad on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to six people convicted in two unrelated murder cases. Both verdicts included monetary penalties while two co-accused in the respective cases, died during the course of the trial. In the first case, linked to Madanpur police station, the court of principal district and sessions Judge, Rajkumar, sentenced Krishna Ram and Krit Ram to life imprisonment for the murder of their own uncle, Sahang Ram. According to public prosecutor Pushkar Agrawal, both convicts, residents of Karmdih village, were fined Rs10,000 each, with an additional one-year jail in case of default in payment. As per advocate Satish Kumar Snehi, the case was based on a complaint filed on June 26, 2003, by one Sanjay Ram. The FIR alleged that a dispute over passage through govt land led to a violent altercation between Mahang Ram and his brother Sahang Ram, aided by his sons Krishna and Krit Ram. Mahang Ram sustained critical injuries and later succumbed during treatment. Sahang Ram passed away during the trial. In another case, related to Uphara police station, additional district and sessions Judge VIII, Manish Jaiswal sentenced four men — Ashok Sharma alias Ashok Verma, Abu alias Ranjeet Kumar, Satish Kumar, and Jayprakash Singh, all residents of Shankardih village in Uphara — to life imprisonment and also slapped a fine of ₹15,000 each. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Govt prosecutor Pradeep Kumar Singh said the prosecution examined seven witnesses, including a doctor and the investigating officer. One of the accused, Bishnupad Singh, died during trial proceedings. The FIR, lodged by Sujit Kumar of Shankarpur village on Dec 2, 2020, stated that his father, Srinath Sharma, was brutally assaulted near the village canal by the accused and others over a land dispute. He was rushed to the primary health centre in Goh, where doctors declared him dead.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store