Since August 2024, Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of over 37,000 people. The majority of those affected are migrant women who acquired citizenship through marriage. This action has sparked widespread criticism from human rights groups.
The revocation is part of a "reform initiative" by Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who assumed power in December 2023. He aims to "cleanse Kuwait of impurities" and restrict citizenship to those with ancestral ties. At least 26,000 women who gained citizenship through marriage have lost it under the new policy.
The law cancels citizenships granted to foreign spouses since 1987, potentially leading to statelessness. Even prominent figures like pop singer Nawal El Kuwaitia and actor Dawood Hussein have been affected. Critics warn this exclusionary policy could deepen social divisions and harm Kuwait's reputation.