Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of 153 individuals, including those who acquired it through them, according to a decree published in the official gazette on Wednesday.
The decree notably targets descendants and grandchildren of tribal sheikhs from the Shammar and Anaza tribes, which are widely spread across the Gulf region as well as Syria, Iraq, and Jordan.
Among those stripped of citizenship are members of the Al-Jarba clan, a prominent branch of the Shammar tribe, and the Al-Hadhil family, affiliated with the Anaza tribe.
This is not the first time Kuwait has revoked citizenship from descendants of tribal leaders. A previous decision involved withdrawing nationality from the grandchildren of Sheikh Mahroot bin Fahd Al-Hadhil, the former sheikh of the Anaza tribe.
While the decree did not specify reasons, earlier decisions cited dual nationality, often Saudi citizenship, as the cause, since Kuwaiti law prohibits holding citizenship of another country alongside Kuwaiti nationality.
The move is part of a broader, large-scale crackdown since August 2024, in which Kuwait has stripped citizenship from over 42,000 people.
The campaign has primarily targeted women naturalised through marriage, dual nationals, and some prominent public figures. Tens of thousands have become stateless overnight, including well-known figures such as singer Nawal Al-Kuwaitia and actor Dawood Hussein.
The campaign is driven by Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who assumed power in December 2023 and has since dissolved parliament and suspended parts of the constitution.
The Emir describes the policy as a way to "return Kuwait to its original people, clean and free from impurities", aiming to restrict nationality to those with deep blood ties to Kuwait and reshape national identity.
Those stripped of citizenship lose access to basic rights like healthcare, education, government jobs, and pensions. They must surrender passports and ID cards and are reclassified as stateless or "Bidoon", a marginalised group already present in Kuwait.
Legal changes underpinning this campaign include amendments to Kuwait’s Nationality Law enacted in late 2024, which abolished naturalisation by marriage for women and introduced stricter conditions for revocation, including for dual nationality and alleged fraud. The process lacks judicial oversight or appeal, raising serious concerns about due process and human rights.
Human rights organisations have condemned the campaign as politically motivated repression that disproportionately harms vulnerable groups, increases statelessness, and fractures families.