Nabil Al-Awadhi loses Kuwaiti citizenship once more

Key Takeaways

• Nabil Al-Awadhi lost Kuwaiti citizenship twice, most recently in April 2025 during a large government crackdown.
• Over 42,000 people lost Kuwaiti nationality since early 2024, including activists, journalists, and religious leaders.
• Article 13 of Kuwait’s Nationality Law enables revocation for perceived threats to security or claims of fraud.

Prominent Islamic preacher Nabil Al-Awadhi has once again found himself at the center of a national debate after the Kuwaiti government revoked his citizenship for the second time in April 2025. The decision to strip Al-Awadhi of his Kuwaiti citizenship comes during a larger campaign that has seen over 42,000 individuals lose their nationality since early 2024. This campaign, led by Kuwait’s Supreme Committee for Nationality Affairs, claims to focus on “forgery,” “dual citizenship,” and supposed threats to national security. The events have set off strong reactions from activists, affected individuals, and outside observers, who warn about the dangers of statelessness and unfair government actions.

A look at Nabil Al-Awadhi’s turbulent citizenship history, as well as the wider crackdown, reveals how questions of national identity and state control are affecting lives in Kuwait 🇰🇼 today.

Background: Al-Awadhi’s First Citizenship Revocation

Nabil Al-Awadhi’s path to Kuwaiti citizenship began back in 1998 when he was first naturalized. He quickly became a well-known public figure as an Islamic preacher and social media influencer. However, his citizenship journey took a sudden turn in 2014. The Kuwaiti government revoked his citizenship under accusations that included “regime destabilization” and claims that he may have been undermining the country’s social or economic order.

The main legal reason given was Article 13 of Kuwait’s Nationality Law. This law allows the government to take away citizenship from people whose actions are viewed as harmful to the state’s interests or security. The law also covers those who may have received their citizenship in unfair ways, such as through fraud or acting secretly against Kuwait 🇰🇼.

Following this first revocation, Al-Awadhi, along with several other public figures, became a symbol in the growing tug-of-war between the government and opposition voices. Public anger and legal challenges eventually led to a reversal of many of these decisions around 2017. During this period, citizenship was restored to several people, including Al-Awadhi, as the country tried to calm tension and open the door for political reconciliation.

Mass Crackdown and April 2025: The Second Revocation

Nabil Al-Awadhi’s second Kuwaiti citizenship revocation in April 2025 did not take place in isolation. It came as part of an even larger push by the government against people seen as having gained their nationality in ways forbidden by Kuwaiti law or who, like Al-Awadhi, are seen as critics or opponents.

Officials say the purpose of these actions is to “restore Kuwait to its rightful people.” The Supreme Committee for Nationality Affairs claims it is focused on removing “illegal naturalizations,” dual citizens, dissidents, and anyone considered a threat to the country’s stability. Article 13 is again the legal tool used to take away citizenship from naturalized persons whose loyalty is under suspicion or whose path to Kuwaiti citizenship is believed to be untrustworthy.

Estimates suggest that more than 35,000 to 42,000 people have lost their Kuwaiti nationality since early 2024 for these reasons, a number that includes activists, women married to non-Kuwaitis, journalists, artists, and religious leaders such as Al-Awadhi. The campaign is not just about personal stories but also reveals how Kuwait 🇰🇼 is dealing with questions about its national identity and the definition of real citizenship.

Criticisms of Revocation: Impact on Rights and Daily Life

The mass revocation of Kuwaiti citizenship has sparked strong criticism from human rights groups and civil society organizations both inside and outside Kuwait 🇰🇼. Critics say these actions often lack proper legal process, meaning people are sometimes left without a fair chance to present their case or appeal the government’s decision.

One of the biggest worries is the threat of statelessness. When people lose their Kuwaiti citizenship and do not have another passport, they quickly find themselves stateless—meaning they belong nowhere and have almost no legal rights. This status can make it nearly impossible to work, travel, or even stay in the country legally.

Joe Stork from Human Rights Watch summed up this concern, saying, “No government has the right to strip away its people’s citizenship simply because it disapproves of them…their opinions…or their actions.” In practice, people who become stateless face problems like:

• Losing access to government services and jobs
• Trouble traveling in or out of Kuwait 🇰🇼 because they may not have a passport
• Barriers to education, healthcare, and social benefits
• Difficulty owning property or starting a business

The situation is even harder for groups already at risk of discrimination. For example, women from mixed marriages (those married to non-Kuwaitis) are often treated unfairly when it comes to citizenship laws (especially under Article 8). Artists, activists, religious preachers, and those who speak out against the government feel especially targeted during the ongoing crackdown.

Government Response: Legal Justification and National Security Concerns

Kuwaiti officials defend the campaign by saying they are simply following the law, mainly Article 13 of the Nationality Law. This law gives the government wide power to take away citizenship from naturalized Kuwaitis if their loyalty is called into question, or if they are accused of supporting or being involved in activities against Kuwait 🇰🇼. The legal wording covers activities as vague as “harming state interests” and as specific as “fraud or forgery” in the citizenship process.

To support their actions, the Supreme Committee for Nationality Affairs maintains that all cases go through proper checks and reviews before any final decision is made. They argue that these steps help ensure the country’s security and support a fair national identity.

However, outside organizations and critics argue that the process lacks transparency and often bypasses established legal procedures. They point out that affected individuals usually do not have open hearings to defend themselves, and government decisions are rarely explained in detail, making it almost impossible to challenge them in court.

Summary Table: Key Events in Nabil Al-Awadhi’s Citizenship Status

Here’s a timeline showing how the citizenship status of Nabil Al-Awadhi has changed over time:

The Wider Impact: Society, Politics, and the Role of Preachers

The case of Nabil Al-Awadhi is now viewed by many as more than a personal struggle; it’s a symbol of broader problems within Kuwaiti society and government. Public religious figures, some of whom once enjoyed wide acceptance and state support, are now among those at risk of being stripped of citizenship. This speaks to changing state attitudes toward public voices, as well as growing uncertainty about what it means to be Kuwaiti 🇰🇼.

Also, the enormous scale of citizenship revocation—over 42,000 people in just a year—sends a message to those thinking about publicly disagreeing with the government. The threat of losing one’s citizenship can make people less willing to speak their minds, attend protests, or challenge official policies, all of which can limit freedom of expression and political life more broadly.

The Kuwaiti government, for its part, argues that the measures are needed to protect national unity, public safety, and the rule of law. Still, critics insist that such sweeping acts risk breaking apart families, causing uncertainty among communities, and weakening people’s faith in justice and fairness.

Statelessness: What It Means for Everyday Life

For those like Nabil Al-Awadhi who have lost their Kuwaiti citizenship, daily life can become extremely hard. Stateless individuals may lose their jobs immediately and no longer be allowed to work in formal roles. Many also lose access to public education and free healthcare, making it difficult for them and their families to survive or plan for the future.

Travel is nearly impossible without a valid passport, and renewing residency permits can be a constant struggle. Property ownership, opening bank accounts, or getting a driver’s license often become impossible. In practice, stateless people live in a kind of legal limbo, unable to enjoy even basic rights that come with citizenship in any country.

This problem is not new to Kuwait 🇰🇼. The country has long faced issues related to the Bidoon, a group of stateless persons with no recognized nationality who live in Kuwait 🇰🇼. The recent mass revocations are now creating another generation of stateless people, leading to wider worries about social stability and fairness.

Legal Recourse: Fighting Revocation and Seeking Solutions

For those affected, including Nabil Al-Awadhi, challenging a citizenship revocation is very hard. There is little clear process for appeal, and Kuwait 🇰🇼 does not have strong laws that guarantee hearings or judicial review in such cases. Lawyers and human rights groups often have few ways to argue on behalf of clients, especially as many government decisions remain secret.

Internationally, the United Nations and groups like Human Rights Watch have called attention to the issue, urging Kuwait 🇰🇼 to respect basic rights and make sure people do not end up stateless. However, the power to grant or revoke citizenship still belongs mainly to each country’s own government, making outside pressure only partly effective.

If you or someone you know is affected by changes to Kuwaiti citizenship laws or revocation, it’s important to check the Kuwait government’s official nationality and immigration services for the latest rules and any possible appeal steps.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that the Kuwaiti citizenship revocation policy is having serious effects not just for high-profile individuals like Nabil Al-Awadhi, but also for thousands of regular citizens. The risk of becoming stateless, losing basic rights, or being forced to leave the country is now a reality for many.

What Comes Next?

The pattern of Kuwaiti citizenship revocation raises pressing questions: How can Kuwait 🇰🇼 balance its need for national security with respect for the rights of all residents? What does citizenship really mean in today’s world, and how can countries avoid making people stateless while still upholding their own laws?

For now, the story of Nabil Al-Awadhi is a reminder of the human impact behind laws and government campaigns. As the debate continues, many are watching closely to see whether Kuwait 🇰🇼 will take steps to offer more fairness and protect the rights of everyone living within its borders.

In summary, the revocation of Nabil Al-Awadhi’s Kuwaiti citizenship not just once, but twice, highlights the deep divides and ongoing arguments about citizenship, rights, and national identity in Kuwait 🇰🇼. The campaign may be legal under local law, but its human impact is large and lasting—for Al-Awadhi, the thousands of others affected, and the future of Kuwaiti society itself.

Learn Today

Statelessness → A condition where a person is not recognized as a citizen by any country, resulting in the loss of basic rights and protections.
Article 13 → A section of Kuwait’s Nationality Law allowing citizenship removal for actions deemed harmful to the state or obtained by fraud.
Naturalization → The legal process through which a non-citizen acquires nationality or citizenship of a country.
Supreme Committee for Nationality Affairs → Kuwaiti government body responsible for overseeing policy and decisions on citizenship grants, revocations, and related issues.
Apatrid → A person who is not considered a national by any state under the operation of its law, synonym for stateless.

This Article in a Nutshell

Kuwait’s sweeping revocation of citizenship has deeply affected thousands, including Nabil Al-Awadhi. Critics say the process, centered on Article 13, lacks transparency and leaves people stateless. The crackdown signals shifting state attitudes on identity and free expression, illustrating profound personal and societal consequences for those who lose their citizenship.
— By VisaVerge.com

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