Kuwait drops deportation exceptions

SYRIAN AND YEMENI OFFENDERS WERE EXEMPTED DUE TO WAR IN THEIR NATIONS

In the past, Syrians and Yemenis on the deportation list used to be pardoned by the interior ministry in consideration of the difficult humanitarian situation in their country.

Kuwait is to drop the deportation exceptions it had extended to Syrian and Yemeni expatriates who had broken the law, explaining that the higher interests of the country were much more significant than any other considerations.

Anyone who breaks the laws or commits a felony should be deported as per the interests and security of Kuwait, the committee tasked with studying the cases of expats on the deportation list, said.

“Whoever does not respect the laws of Kuwait will be deported, even if there is an armed conflict in his home country.

“In the past, Syrians and Yemenis on the deportation list were pardoned by the Interior Ministry in consideration of the difficult humanitarian situation in their country,” a source familiar with the work of the committee said, Kuwaiti daily Al Rai reported yesterday.

Situation improved

“However, with the increase in the number of crimes and in the number of Syrians and Yemenis in the deportation centres, the committee said that any expatriate who commits a felony should be deported immediately regardless of his or her nationality. The conditions in some Arab countries that halted the deportation of their citizens have improved.”

The public prosecutor said there were no exceptions to deportations ruled by a court regardless of nationality.

The Ministry of Interior, the public prosecution and diplomatic missions concerned with the deportation of their citizens have been cooperatinge, the source added.

Last Novemberr, the Ministry of Interior released 50 of the 67 Syrians held at the deportation centre as a gesture of good will.

Although Kuwait has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards foreigners who break local laws, Syrians have enjoyed a special status that has often protected them. It was a result of lawmakers regularly requesting the Interior Ministry to show clemency when dealing with Syrians.

In May 2014, a lawmaker succeeded in convincing the interior minister not to deport 21 Syrians, who were scheduled to be kicked out for involvement in a brawl, which started in a street between Syrians from two different families. One victim was taken to hospital.

The relatives of the aggressor attacked the relatives of the victim at the hospital, causing chaos and panic. Nine people were injured.

One week earlier, Kuwait deported 14 Egyptians after they disrupted traffic by climbing on top of a bus and carried flags and posters of their preferred presidential candidate in Egypt.

According to official figures, 145,328 Syrians live in Kuwait, ranking fifth after Indians (around 900,000), Egyptians (around 600,000), Filipinos (240,000) and Bangladeshis (200,000) and ahead of Pakistani (110,000) and Sri Lankans (100,000).