Kuwait threatens to revoke dissidents' citizenship

Kuwait's government has threatened to revoke the citizenship of an undefined number of people suspected of trying to "undermine the security and stability" of the oil-rich monarchy, prompting opposition figures on Tuesday to call for the government to be sacked.

The measure is part of an "iron fist" policy adopted by the cabinet on Monday night, following protests last week over the arrest of prominent opposition politician Musallam al-Barak for allegedly insulting the judiciary. Police had used smoke bombs to disperse hundreds of people who tried to march from the Grand Mosque to the main court complex.

"The Interior Ministry is assigned to take all measures that are necessary to ensure the presence of the conditions and requirements provided for by Kuwaiti citizenship law number 15 of 1959, both in form and spirit, and especially in relation to the practices aimed at undermining security and stability," the cabinet said in a statement carried by state news agency KUNA.

Opposition figures on Tuesday warned of an imminent police state in one of the Gulf's freest countries, calling for parliament to be dissolved and fresh elections held.

"This is an invitation for security agencies to suppress peaceful protests by the opposition... a threat to revoke citizenship and curb non-profit organizations," the leftist Progressive Movement said in a statement.

"The cabinet statement provides a blessing for the police state approach and for the security suppression of the people and opponents," added former opposition MP Mubarak al-Waalan, in a tweet.

Kuwaiti political analyst Shamlan Alessa told Reuters the measure was probably aimed at naturalized Kuwaitis who have joined the opposition in the wake of last week's unrest. In most countries, it is impossible to revoke the citizenship of natural-born citizens.

An OPEC member with more than 6 percent of world oil reserves and a key U.S. ally in the region, Kuwait has allowed more political freedom than most Gulf states. While it does not allow political parties to operate and has banned public gatherings of more than 20 people without a permit, it does tolerate political “societies” of various shades and has an elected parliament.

But since mid-2006, Kuwait has been rocked by a series of political crises, with about a dozen cabinets appointed and parliament dissolved six times. Most opposition groups are no longer represented in parliament after boycotting a July 2013 election in protest of an amended electoral law.

In May, Kuwait's justice and Islamic affairs minister, Nayef al-Ajmi, stepped down after a senior U.S. official said he had called for “jihad” in Syria.

Separately, Kuwaiti authorities have also been investigating an alleged plot to overthrow the Gulf state's ruling system.

In addition to the possible revocation of certain individuals' citizenship, the government has ordered the ministry of social welfare to look into the activities of non-governmental associations to ensure they do not participate in any form of political activity.

Analysts like Alessa suspect these measures are aimed at the Muslim Brotherhood, which is represented in Kuwaiti parliament by the Hadas party but has often butted heads with the government.

The pan-Arab Islamist group is banned in many countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Al Jazeera and wire services