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Arab Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
'Year of the Fool': Syrian Forgery Network of Kuwaiti Citizenship Busted
KUWAIT CITY, May 14 — A Syrian national who fraudulently obtained Kuwaiti citizenship has been stripped of his nationality following an investigation by the Supreme Nationality Committee. The case dates back to July 2024, when the Nationality Investigation Department received a tip about the forger, whose sister, a legal resident in Kuwait, admitted that her brother had falsely registered as a Kuwaiti citizen. Further investigation revealed that her husband was the cousin of the forger, confirming familial ties in the deception. Authorities discovered that the case was more immense than initially believed. The forger, who has since fled Kuwait, had also fraudulently registered four individuals as his sons. These four, now also fugitives, were confirmed to have no biological link to the Kuwaiti citizen they claimed as a father. The deception came to light after the biological children of the deceased Kuwaiti citizen waived inheritance rights and agreed to DNA testing, which proved the fraud. Two of the four forged files involve nearly 80 individuals, and investigations into the remaining two cases are ongoing. The Nationality Investigation Department has collaborated with the Public Authority for Minors' Affairs, which confirmed that inheritance rights had previously been waived in 1986 in favor of the genuine heirs. While the forgers remain abroad, their children residing in Kuwait have been summoned and confirmed through DNA testing as unrelated to the Kuwaiti family, prompting steps for the revocation of their citizenship. Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef previously referred to 2024 as 'the year of the fool,' citing the sharp rise in forged nationality cases.
Arab Times
01-05-2025
- Arab Times
From One Lie, 96 Lives: Kuwait Uncovers Massive Nationality Forgery
KUWAIT CITY, May 1: Kuwait's Nationality Investigation Department has uncovered one of the largest citizenship fraud cases in its history. The fraudulent case involves the illegal registration of 96 individuals under a forged family file, prompting authorities to revoke all associated nationalities. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the case centers around a man who falsely claimed to be the biological son of an elderly Kuwaiti man. The fraudster, whose identity remains undisclosed, later admitted that only 16 of the 96 individuals registered under his file were his actual children, while the rest had no legitimate family ties. The breakthrough came from a DNA sample collected in 2017 from the elderly man, now deceased, whose name was fraudulently used in the file. Preserved in the forensic archives, this genetic evidence became crucial in confirming that the so-called descendants were not biologically related to him. Further investigations revealed that one of the key figures in the case, who had fraudulently added himself as a son to the original file, fled the country after being summoned by authorities. Despite his absence, several of his alleged sons were arrested. When their DNA was compared to the grandfather's preserved sample, the results confirmed no biological connection. Authorities also discovered that the fugitive had not only forged his own identity but had also falsely registered 34 individuals as his children. When extended to include supposed grandchildren, the fraudulent family file ballooned to 96 names—an unprecedented number in Kuwait's citizenship fraud cases. This case has raised concerns about systemic vulnerabilities in Kuwait's nationality registration process and is expected to lead to tighter controls and scrutiny in future applications.
Arab Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait Revokes Citizenship Of 13 Iraqis In Major Forgery Case
KUWAIT CITY, May 1 : Kuwaiti authorities have reopened a complex citizenship fraud case involving 13 individuals of Iraqi origin, including a group of forgers and their falsely registered family members. The case, which dates back to 2016, was initially exposed through DNA testing but later took a political turn, resulting in a temporary restoration of the revoked citizenships before being reversed again in 2024. The forgery came to light when the Nationality Investigation Department received intelligence that six individuals claimed to belong to two different Kuwaiti tribes, while in fact, they were biological brothers from the same father. The discovery was confirmed through DNA testing, which revealed their true familial ties. One of the forgers was found living with another Iraqi man, who was not merely a housemate but his brother and also linked to the other accused. Although their Kuwaiti citizenships were revoked in 2016 based on the genetic evidence, a political settlement in 2023 between the government and parliament—reportedly in response to looming parliamentary questioning—led to the reinstatement of their nationalities under a general amnesty. However, in 2024, the government once again revoked their citizenship after receiving fresh intelligence in 2025 about a seventh brother named Shanawa, who had fled the country the previous July. Authorities detained his wife and children as they attempted to leave Kuwait, and subsequent DNA testing matched them with a 2016 sample belonging to the alleged uncle, who was revealed to be their paternal uncle and the brother of Shanawa, confirming the fraud. Investigators concluded that all 13 individuals were part of an extended family that falsely claimed tribal affiliations and forged documents to obtain Kuwaiti citizenship. The patriarch, who had assumed the false identity of Shanawa, worked in Kuwait's oil sector until his retirement in 2016, around the time the case first surfaced. It has since come to light that one of his sons currently works in the oil sector, while another is employed in the National Assembly Secretariat. The genetic fingerprinting conducted by Kuwait's forensic experts played a critical role in dismantling the case, offering irrefutable proof that all involved shared the same biological lineage, undermining their forged identities and tribal affiliations. In parallel, the Supreme Committee on Citizenship held a meeting to review ongoing cases of dual nationality. Among these were cases involving a U.S. citizen and two individuals from neighboring Gulf countries. The committee also considered two cases of individuals who voluntarily renounced their Kuwaiti citizenship to comply with nationality regulations. Sources confirmed a noticeable rise in the number of people voluntarily surrendering their Kuwaiti nationality, driven by increasing awareness of government crackdowns and efforts to legalize status. Many of these individuals are proactively adjusting their legal standing, acknowledging the tightening regulatory environment and aiming to avoid legal repercussions.
Arab Times
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwaiti Citizenship Forgery So Bold, He Was Born 3 months Before His Mother
KUWAIT CITY, April 17: In a striking case of citizenship fraud, sources stated about a long-running investigation tied to a case once raised by former National Assembly member Ahmed Al-Fadhel. The case involves a man of Syrian origin who had falsely obtained Kuwaiti citizenship and has now had it revoked, along with 86 individuals linked to his file. The story began in 2017 when the Nationality Investigation Department received intelligence indicating that a man claiming Kuwaiti nationality was, in fact, Syrian. Realizing the growing threat of exposure, the man fled the country that same year. However, with the help of influential acquaintances and political pressure, including parliamentary backing, the arrest warrant against him was lifted, allowing him to return to Kuwait under the assumption that the case had been quietly closed. The situation took a turn when former MP Ahmed Al-Fadhel revealed new details during a public seminar, prompting the man to flee Kuwait again. Despite repeated summons, he failed to appear before the Nationality Investigation Department. Authorities then summoned his sons for DNA testing, comparing their genetic material with that of individuals listed as their paternal uncles in official records. The results confirmed conclusively that no biological relationship existed. In an attempt to further avoid investigation, the man's sons submitted a Syrian-issued death certificate, claiming he had died in Syria. However, forensic examination of both the DNA findings and the questionable death certificate raised further doubts, exposing yet another layer of forgery. Ultimately, Kuwaiti authorities revoked the man's citizenship and that of 86 individuals associated with his fraudulent nationality file. In a bizarre twist, investigators found that the man's birth certificate listed him as older than his mother, with official documents showing that his supposed mother was three months and two weeks younger than him.
Arab Times
17-04-2025
- Arab Times
From Iraqi Tribal Leader To Kuwaiti Citizen: 164 Individuals Added To His Fraudulent File
KUWAIT CITY, April 17: What once seemed like an impenetrable web of forgery has now been fully exposed by Kuwait's determined and coordinated security forces. Through meticulous investigation and cooperation between the State Security Service, Military Intelligence, and the Nationality Investigation Department, a complex case of fraudulent citizenship dating back to 1965 has been brought to light, revealing an elaborate scheme that ultimately led to the revocation of Kuwaiti nationality from 164 individuals. The story began in 1965 when a man applied for Kuwaiti citizenship under Article 1 of the nationality law, which allows citizenship for those whose fathers were in Kuwait before 1920. Based solely on the testimony of witnesses, the man claimed his father met the criteria. When questioned by the authorities at the time, he claimed that his father had passed away and that he had no siblings or paternal uncles. With no further verification, he was granted citizenship. The deception didn't stop there. In 1970, feeling secure in his false identity, the man brought one of his actual brothers to Kuwait and, once again with the help of witness testimonies, succeeded in having him naturalized under Article 1. He repeated this process in 1973, bringing in yet another brother who falsely claimed he had been living in the desert and now wanted to join his "Kuwaiti" brothers. Witnesses, including some members of the National Assembly at the time, attested to his story. The pattern continued until all six brothers were granted Kuwaiti citizenship based on a false ancestral claim. However, in 1982, the first and central figure in the scheme abruptly left Kuwait and returned to his homeland, the Anbar Governorate in Iraq. There, he resumed his life under his real identity as a tribal sheikh, remarried, and started a new family. He never returned to Kuwait. Investigators later discovered that he had been killed in Iraq approximately 15 years ago. Years later, the Nationality Investigation Department began re-examining old files and uncovered the depth of the fraud. They identified the man's real name, obtained his Iraqi death certificate, and tracked down his son from his Iraqi wife. DNA tests were conducted and compared to the brothers still living in Kuwait. The results confirmed their biological relationship and exposed the fraudulent claim of Kuwaiti ancestry. One key piece of evidence was an Iraqi passport that revealed his true identity and origin. Adding another layer to the investigation, officials discovered a document from 1992 written by a Kuwaiti liaison officer stationed at the Kuwaiti embassy in Abu Dhabi. It identified the original forger as an Iraqi national and a member of the Ba'ath Party. The document also confirmed that he had entered Kuwait with the Iraqi Popular Army during the 1990 invasion, despite officially having left Kuwait a decade earlier in 1982. Under the direction of Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti authorities coordinated with Iraqi officials to verify the man's background. Their efforts confirmed that the man had been born in Anbar, Iraq, and had never been eligible for Kuwaiti citizenship. As a result, the Supreme Committee decided to revoke the citizenship of the original forger, his five brothers, their dependents, and others who were granted nationality based on the same fraudulent file. In total, 164 people lost their Kuwaiti citizenship, including several wives who had obtained it under Article 8. In a final twist, it was revealed that one of the five brothers, who had himself obtained citizenship fraudulently, had also provided false testimony to support another individual's naturalization. That person's citizenship had already been revoked several months earlier in a related case. This case serves as one of the most complex and far-reaching examples of citizenship fraud in Kuwait's history, and a testament to the effectiveness of coordinated investigative efforts by the nation's security forces.
