Kuwaiti authorities have revoked the citizenship of renowned national team goalkeeper Ahmed Traboulsi amid a sweeping crackdown in the country in recent years, triggering a wave of condemnation.

Trabousli, a former army officer, was one of the many listed along with their children and grandchildren who were set to have their citizenship revoked, local Arabic media reported on Sunday.

Kuwait's government has led a campaign to "clean up" the nationality register, which has led to a wave of denaturalisations since early 2024.

The goalkeeper, who was born in Lebanon in 1947 but has long been retired, migrated to Kuwait in his twenties after a successful career with Lebanon's al-Najma club.

In Kuwait, he served as goalkeeper for al-Qadsia SC before moving to Kuwait SC. During this time, his achievements prompted the government to give him citizenship, and he was allowed to join the national team.

His performance on the team has long been praised, particularly as he won the Gulf Cup on three occasions with the national team, and represented Kuwait in its only appearance at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

As well as being an army officer who rose through the ranks to the position of colonel, Trabousli was known for his recitation of the Quran and giving the call to prayer in some of the nation’s biggest mosques.

Before retiring, he coached young players in several clubs across the country, and has made numerous media appearances on local sports channels.

The news of his citizenship being revoked has triggered criticism online, with many directing their anger at Interior Minister Fahd Al-Yousef Al-Sabah.

Many took to social media to describe Trabousli as one of the country’s most important figures.

One social media user took the opportunity to apologise to Traboulsi on behalf of the government, writing: "We apologise to you as a people and to everyone who served Kuwait and sacrificed their life for it and raised its flag and through whom Kuwait was known for its civilisation, culture, humanity, art, and heroism... We apologise to all of you... This authority represents only itself and some racists for whom the generous, humane Kuwait has become too narrow."

One person said that the decision against the "greatest goalkeeper in the history of Kuwaiti and Asian national teams" had "destroyed him and destroyed his lineage instead of rewarding him for his contributions".

Others expressed solidarity and sadness with the goalkeeper, with one person writing: "Your name remains in the hearts of Kuwaitis a symbol of noble character in any place and in every time. You were and still are among your family and loved ones."

The prominent football player is one of scores of ordinary citizens, celebrities and preachers who have been targeted in the crackdown.

Earlier this month, Kuwait withdrew the citizenship of its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Badr Mohammed Al-Awadhi, in a rare decision that leaves a serving diplomat without the nationality of the state he was accredited to represent.

In December, Kuwait issued a decree revoking the citizenship of Tariq al-Suwaidan, one of the region's most influential Islamic preachers. While the decree did not specify why his citizenship was being revoked, Kuwait has in the past denaturalised people who acquired citizenship through fraud, committed certain crimes, or if the state has evidence that the individual was working to undermine the regime.

In recent years, Kuwait has also revoked the citizenship of scores of people if they are found to have dual nationality.

The UN human rights office last year raised concerns after tens of thousands of Kuwaitis were stripped of citizenship, many of them women.

More than 37,000 people, including at least 26,000 women, have lost Kuwaiti nationality since August, according to an AFP tally of official figures, although media reports suggest the real number could be much higher.

The mass revocations have been cast as part of a reformist agenda spearheaded by Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, in power since December 2023.

"We are deeply concerned about Kuwait's recent nationality revocations, particularly of individuals who renounced previous citizenships, and about the extension of such revocations to their dependents," UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango told AFP. (The New Arab)

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