Kuwaiti playwright Abdul Aziz al-Suraie dies days after citizenship revoked

Prominent Kuwaiti playwright and novelist Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Suraie died on Saturday morning aged 87, just six days after his citizenship was revoked in the latest crackdown by authorities.  

For six decades, he has been recognised for his contributions to theatre, literature, and other cultural fields.

On 25 January, Kuwait issued a decree revoking Al-Suraie's citizenship, along with that of 65 others, according to Kuwait Today. Other prominent figures from the sports, medical, and military sectors were also targeted in the decision.

Last week, Kuwaiti authorities sparked shockwaves across the country by revoking the citizenship of the renowned former national team goalkeeper and army officer, Ahmed Traboulsi.

Al-Suraie’s citizenship revocation also sparked anger, with many noting that he had critical health conditions when the decree was issued.

The playwright was born in Kuwait City in 1939 and studied Arabic Language at Kuwait University, before he later pursued a career in the Department of Education. He also joined the Gulf Arab Theatre Troupe in 1963 and became a highly respected senior member.

In 1972, he served as the head of the Drama Department at Kuwait Television and a rapporteur for the Cinema and Theatre Unit at the Supreme Committee for the Development of Arts.

He held several positions at the National Council for Culture and Arts, including the head of the Theatre Department, the head of External Cultural Relations and the head of the Culture and Arts Department. Later in 1991, he was appointed to Secretary-General of the Abdulaziz Saud al-Babtain Foundation.

The country has led a campaign to "clean up" the nationality register, which has led to a wave of denaturalisations since early 2024.

Earlier this month, Kuwait withdrew the citizenship of its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Badr Mohammed Al-Awadhi, in a rare decision that left a serving diplomat without the nationality of the state he was accredited to represent.

The mass revocations have been cast as part of a reformist agenda spearheaded by Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, in power since December 2023.

"We are deeply concerned about Kuwait's recent nationality revocations, particularly of individuals who renounced previous citizenships, and about the extension of such revocations to their dependents," UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango told AFP.