Kuwait: Treatment upon return of failed asylum claimants (December 1994 to February 1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | KWT31124.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Kuwait: Treatment upon return of failed asylum claimants (December 1994 to February 1999), 1 February 1999, KWT31124.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab1b4c.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No mention of the return of failed asylum claimants to Kuwait could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
In a 10 February 1999 telephone interview, a professor of Political Science at Kuwait University, who is also the head of the Committee for the Defence of War Victims, stated that it is not clear how a failed asylum claimant would be treated upon return to Kuwait. He said that he would assume that most often the government would not be aware that a person had filed a refugee claim unless it had been publicized. He said that it is not against the law for someone to make a claim for refugee status and therefore there are no legal avenues that could be pursued by the authorities if someone returned after not having a claim recognized. However, the professor said "other actions could be taken" but emphasized that a general answer could not be given, since each case would depend on specific circumstances. He added that if the refugee claimant was a bidoon ("stateless Arab") he/she likely would not be permitted re-entry to Kuwait if not holding a passport or travel document. However, if the individual possessed an Article 17 passport, and the authorities were unaware of the claim for refugee status, then the individual would most likely be able to return to Kuwait.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Kuwait University. 10 February 1999. Telephone interview with professor of Political Science.
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, World News Connection (WNC).
The Middle East [London]. January 1998-present.
Middle East International [London]. January 1998-present.
Middle East Report [Washington, DC]. 1996-present.
REWORLD [CD-ROM]. July 1998.
Resource Centre. Kuwait country file. May 1996-present.
_____. Kuwait: Amnesty International country file. June 1995-present.
US Committee for Refugees. Website.
Two non-documentary sources contacted could not provide information on the requested subject.
