‘Bedoun issue concerns us all’
some newspapers have published unconfirmed reports that the central system for remedying the status of illegal residents (csrsir) or the so-called bedoun has almost been settled and that the final solution to their problem will end in some of them being granting the permanent residence (to those who were registered during the 1965 census and military men) on condition they disclose their original nationality following which they will be given the civil id to amend all state records and exempt them from residence and health insurance fees in addition to other privileges.
the children born to kuwaiti mothers shall be naturalized if they were born in kuwait and have continuously resided in kuwait and provided they renounce their original nationality. foreigners married to kuwaiti women shall be granted permanent residence if the marriage has lasted for more than 15 years even if they were not included in 1965 census.
others who are not registered in 1965 census shall be granted residence permit for five years, subject for renewal and exempted from all residence and health insurance fees provided they disclose their original nationality.
personally speaking, my heart and my respect goes to all faithful people and those who have managed to solve this very difficult security, social, political and moral issue. i do not think that these solutions will end this complex and long-standing problem. therefore, i think that a more realistic solution is needed through the enactment of a comprehensive law by the national assembly, which includes the following:
1. granting the kuwaiti citizenship through particular provision to all illegal residents registered with the committee concerned with their situation.
2. in order to preserve the political situation and the composition of the society, which is highly vulnerable as a result of their entry into the lists of candidates and voters, they are not entitled to participate in any parliamentary or municipal elections for a period not less than 30 years and not more than forty years.
3. this nationality does not give the holder and his descendants the right to own any property in the country unless after a period of not less than 15 years to reduce the impact of their income on the real estate market although the financial resources of the majority of these are basically weak.
4. all the children who have been naturalized by subordination shall be entitled to run for elections and to elect and own property and the waiting period for that decreases with every success they achieve in any prominent field, such as a five-year waiting period for those who receive a gold or silver medal in any olympic games, or to reduce the same period for those who have succeeded in patenting in specific areas, which are mentioned in the explanatory note to the law, or any other exceptional matters seen appropriate by the legislator.
