KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s interior ministry yesterday warned stateless residents against demonstrating to mark the international day of non-violence tomorrow, warning it will deal firmly with protesters.
Online activists have been urging stateless residents of the oil-rich Gulf state, known locally as bidoons, to demonstrate peacefully to renew their demands for Kuwaiti citizenship and basic rights like education and healthcare.
The ministry “will deal firmly, in accordance with the law and procedures, with any gatherings or rallies,” said an official statement, which described the stateless people as “illegal residents.”
Bidoons were born and raised in Kuwait and claim they have the right to Kuwaiti citizenship, but the government says only 34,000 of a total of over 106,000 qualify for consideration. Parliament has supported government plans for granting bidoons citizenship, but the process has been slow.
AFP
