The Bidun Protest in Sulaibiya, near Kuwait City
As thousands of Arab citizens continue to protest for their civil and human rights across various Arab capitals, a group of non-citizens face similar resistance, police brutality, and arrests as they struggle for their own rights. The Kuwaiti Bidun (Arabic for “without”) are estimated to be around 120,000 and lack any form citizenship in the oil-rich state. This stateless group, which accounts for 10% of Kuwait’s population, has no right to registered documentation and subsequently no right to public education, health care, employment, or naturalization. They cannot legally obtain certificates for birth, death, marriage, or divorce. The Bidun had previously held the right to registration and access to state institutions and services until the state launched a crackdown in the late 1990s. They are currently considered illegal residents, as the state continues to “study” their claims to citizenship.
In February and March of 2011, hundreds of Bidun protested in demonstrations demanding access to health care, education, employment, and citizenship. Riot police broke up the demonstrators with water cannons, smoke guns, and concussion grenades. Many of the protesters were arrested, with the estimated number of detainees at around 120. Last week, several small protests broke out in reaction to the trial of these protesters. The men standing trial are charged with illegal assembly – only Kuwaiti nationals are allowed to hold public gatherings – with the intent to commit crimes and assault security forces.
Protests continue to take place in front of the country’s parliament earlier this week, with Kuwaiti citizens standing side by side with the stateless Bidun. In front of the parliament building, police stood guard checking IDs. Protests have taken place in front of this building for the past two months, and have led to the resignation of Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah. The AFP reported that tear gas and water cannons were used during this latest round of demonstrations to scatter the protesters.
For now, the Bidun remain marginalized and vulnerable to state oppression. In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the Kuwaiti state will, however, find it increasingly difficult to ignore the demands of the Bidun – should the government do otherwise, it risks transforming this issue into a tinder box that could place the Kuwaiti monarchy in a precarious position, both domestically and internationally.
