Latest news with #NationalityLaw
Arab Times
11 hours ago
- General
- Arab Times
Article 8 passports to be delivered in 2 shifts this Eid holiday
KUWAIT CITY, June 2: The Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Directorate of Nationality and Travel Documents, announced that the delivery of Article 8 passports will take place in two daily shifts during the Eid Al-Adha holiday, starting next Saturday. According to a statement issued Tuesday by the General Department of Public Relations and Security Media, passport delivery will be carried out from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., based on times previously communicated to applicants. The move aims to streamline the passport collection process and enhance service quality, in accordance with ministry directives. The ministry emphasized the importance of booking appointments in advance through the unified government platform "Sahel," by selecting the service path: (Appointments → Ministry of Interior → General Department of Nationality and Travel Documents → Receiving Article 8 Passports). Applicants are also required to present their passport delivery receipt upon arrival. This initiative follows the Ministry of Interior's announcement at the end of May regarding the commencement of passport delivery to individuals whose Kuwaiti nationality was previously revoked under Article 8 of the Nationality Law. These individuals, having returned their passports to the ministry, are now being processed as Kuwaiti nationals.
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Top court rejects claim dual nationality ban is unconstitutional
Japan's top court has rejected an appeal by a Japanese-born U.S. citizen challenging the constitutionality of the country's ban on dual citizenship, finalizing lower court rulings. The decision by the Supreme Court's First Petty Bench, dated Monday, was on a claim that Article 11 of the Nationality Law, which stipulates the loss of Japanese nationality upon voluntarily acquiring a foreign nationality, infringes on the right to self-determination. The Fukuoka District Court turned down the initial claim in 2023, noting that the law was appropriate and was not beyond the scope of discretion. The Fukuoka High Court also supported the first decision last year. According to the ruling, the woman acquired U.S. citizenship in 2004. She applied for a Japanese passport in 2017, but her application was rejected the following year on the grounds that she had lost her Japanese nationality. © KYODO
Arab Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Hajj approval for persons with revoked Kuwaiti citizenship
KUWAIT CITY, May 27: Hajj caravans have been informed about the approval of competent authorities to issue Hajj permits to those whose Kuwaiti citizenship was revoked following Article Eight of the Nationality Law, after fulfilling the specified conditions. Sources told the newspaper that those who meet the conditions will be issued passports and their names will be removed from the banned list, paving the way for them to be assigned to the caravans. Sources added that those who do not meet the conditions — those with a travel ban, a security restriction or an expired passport — are excluded from the aforementioned procedures. Sattam Al-Muzain, head of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs team in the Kuwaiti Hajj expedition, has announced the arrival of the expedition members to the Holy Land in preparation for receiving the pilgrims from Kuwait. This is a confirmation of the report about the arrival of Kuwaiti Hajj expedition teams to the Holy Land that the newspaper published recently. Al-Muzain said the teams and committees began their duties immediately upon their arrival at the expedition's headquarters in Makkah, affirming that they have completed preparations to provide the best services to the guests of Almighty Allah from Kuwait.
Arab Times
22-05-2025
- Arab Times
The Story of Three Syrian Brothers and a Forged Kuwait Citizenship
KUWAIT CITY, May 22: In a high-profile case of forged nationality, informed sources have revealed that three brothers—one of whom obtained Kuwaiti citizenship under false pretenses are at the center of a large-scale fraud investigation that has exposed decades-old manipulation of the naturalization system. According to investigative findings, the eldest brother, originally of Syrian descent, was granted Kuwaiti citizenship in the 1960s under Article 1 of the Nationality Law by submitting a falsified birth date. Though he was born in the 1950s, he claimed to be born in the 1940s to meet the age requirement for naturalization. He later secured a job in Kuwait's oil sector, built a life, and raised a family. However, once investigators uncovered his fraudulent background, he fled the country in November last year with his wife and one of his children, after selling his house and liquidating his assets. Investigators traced his extended family to Syria, where DNA samples taken from his cousins confirmed, via matching Y-chromosome profiles, that they shared a common male ancestor with the fugitive's children. This provided scientific validation of the familial ties and bolstered the case against him. Notably, such genetic evidence was previously not accepted in such cases, but a report from the State Security Department corroborated the findings of the Nationality Investigations Department, offering additional proof of identity fraud. Further digging revealed that his second brother had also acquired Kuwaiti citizenship under the 'noble deeds' clause in 1976, based on letters of recommendation describing him as a philanthropist. He too had worked in the oil sector and is now deceased. A handwritten statement found in his file confirmed that he and the first brother were siblings, both originating from the village of Al-Hasrat in Al-Bukamal, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria. A third brother, also living in Kuwait, had applied for citizenship alongside his siblings in 1976 but was denied. He later applied again through a separate committee but remained stateless (Bedoun). The case against all three was solidified with documentary evidence, genetic testing, and the signed acknowledgment from the second brother that they were, indeed, brothers, confirming the fraudulent citizenship status of at least two of them. Authorities say the fugitive brother, who obtained citizenship via Article 1, has an estimated 50 dependents or followers, while the second brother, now deceased, had 77 followers. In a further twist, it was revealed that the son of the first forger (a high-ranking officer in the Kuwait military)had submitted a retirement request following the exposure of the case. That request was halted after it was discovered he had already left Kuwait and is believed to be in Britain. The investigation highlights the complexities and long-term consequences of fraudulent naturalization and may lead to broader reviews of past citizenship cases.
Gulf Insider
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Oman Grants Citizenship To 156 Expatriates
Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik has issued a royal decree granting Omani citizenship to more than 150 expatriates. Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik issued Royal Decree No. 17/2025 granting Omani citizenship to 156 people. (We have taken a look at how expats can become Omani citizens. Here's a detailed guide.) In February, the Royal Decree on the Omani Nationality Law was issued and introduced a new set of conditions for foreign nationals seeking Omani citizenship. The recent implementation of the Omani Nationality Law under Royal Decree No. 17/2025, replaces the previous nationality law enacted under Royal Decree No. 38/2014, and came into effect on February 2, 2025. The Nationality Law outlines the rules and regulations related to Omani citizenship and the eligibility criteria for individuals seeking to become citizens. The law provides different pathways for individuals to acquire citizenship in Oman, including by birth, marriage to an Omani citizen, and naturalization. It also outlines specific eligibility criteria for each pathway, such as parentage for citizenship by birth, conditions for foreign spouses to acquire citizenship through marriage, and requirements for naturalisation. The law also clarifies provisions regarding Omani citizenship by descent. The Nationality Law stipulates that dual citizenship is generally not permitted in Oman, unless granted by the Sultan through a Royal Decree. Under Article 23, Omani nationals who acquire a foreign nationality in violation of the law will automatically lose their Omani citizenship. Marriage-related provisions also affect nationality status. A foreigner who acquires Omani citizenship through marriage to an Omani woman will lose it if the marriage ends in divorce or desertion within five years. The law clarifies that in such cases, the father's loss of nationality does not affect the children, who will retain their Omani nationality. Similarly, a foreign woman who gains Omani citizenship through marriage to an Omani man will lose it if she divorces and subsequently marries a non-Omani. The loss of citizenship takes effect from the date of the second marriage. Under Article 26, an individual may be stripped of his/her nationality if they insult the Sultan or the Sultanate, whether verbally or through actions. Membership in organisations or parties that promote ideologies harmful to Oman's interests is also grounds for revocation. Additionally, Omani nationals who work for a foreign government in a role that conflicts with the country's interests and refuse to resign despite official requests may lose their citizenship. The same applies to those who work for hostile nations actively engaged against Oman. While the law takes a firm stance on these issues, it allows for the reinstatement of citizenship if the circumstances leading to revocation no longer apply. Under Article 27, individuals convicted of crimes against state security or sentenced for multiple felonies within five years of acquiring nationality may have it revoked. Additionally, long-term absence from Oman is a factor — individuals who remain outside the country for more than 24 consecutive months without a valid reason risk losing their nationality. These measures reflect the Omani government's commitment to national integrity and reinforce strict conditions for maintaining citizenship.
