Cabinet Approves Draft Decree-Law Amending Certain Provisions of the Emiri Decree on the Kuwaiti Nationality Law

Kuwait City, August 18 (KUNA) -- The Council of Ministers, in its meeting held today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, approved a draft law-amending decree to amend certain provisions of Emiri Decree No. 15 of 1959 concerning the Kuwaiti Nationality Law.

Article One of the aforementioned draft law-amending decree stipulates that “the following texts shall replace the text of Item 4 of Article 14 and the text of Article 19 of Emiri Decree No. 15 of 1959:

Article 14, Item 4: If a person intentionally adds to his nationality file or the nationality file of another person any individual who is not his son or descendant, and this is established through an investigation conducted by the Supreme Committee for Kuwaiti Nationality or by a final court judgment, the nationality of any of his sons or descendants may be revoked, provided that his knowledge of such addition is established.

Article 19: The Minister of Interior shall issue a Kuwaiti nationality certificate to any Kuwaiti after verifying its authenticity in accordance with the provisions of this law. This certificate shall be issued in electronic form, and the Minister shall issue a decision detailing the technical and procedural controls and requirements for issuing, storing, using, verifying the authenticity of, canceling, or suspending the validity of the electronic certificate.”

Article Two of the draft law-amending decree further stipulates that “a new paragraph shall be added to the text of Article 7 of Emiri Decree No. 15 of 1959, as follows:

Article 7, new paragraph: A person who has acquired Kuwaiti nationality through naturalization shall not have the right to vote, stand for election, or be appointed to any parliamentary body.”

Article Three of the draft law-amending decree states that “the electronic certificate referred to in this law-amending decree shall carry the same legal weight and effects as the paper nationality certificate, and shall replace the paper certificate in the application of applicable laws, decrees, and regulations.”

The Council of Ministers has submitted the draft law-amending decree to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect and support him. (End) A.M.H.