Information on whether Bedoons' driver's licences were withdrawn shortly before the Iraqi invasion and on whether they have since been reinstated [KWT19838.E]

The Human Rights Watch World Report 1993 states that "by law, Bedoons' driver licenses were withdrawn and their laissez passers were restricted" (1992, 321). However, according to a representative of The Kuwaiti Association to Defend War Victims, a non-governmental Kuwaiti organization in Washington, DC, Bedoons' driver's licences were not withdrawn shortly before the Iraqi invasion (30 March 1995). The representative added that, to his knowledge, everyone with a valid driver's licence before the invasion was still using this document after the liberation of Kuwait (ibid.). However, the representative pointed out that Bedoons who do not hold jobs are not permitted to hold a driver's licence (ibid.) The representative mentioned that there can be exceptions to this last rule for two categories of Bedoons: unemployed Bedoons who previously worked for the police or the armed forces, and Bedoons whose case is pending as to whether or not they will return to a previous job (ibid.).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

References


Human Rights Watch (HRW). 1992. Human Rights Watch World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Kuwaiti Association to Defend War Victims, Washington, DC. 30 March 1995. Telephone interview with representative.

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International. Annual. Amnesty International Report. New York : Amnesty International.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 1994. Human Rights Watch World Report 1995. New York: Human Rights Watch.

The Middle East [London]. Monthly.

Middle East Focus [North York, Ontario]. Quarterly.

Middle East International [Londres/New York]. Bi-monthly.

Middle East Report [Washington, DC]. Bi-monthly.

News From Middle East Watch [New York]. Monthly.

World Directory of Minorities. 1990. London : Minority Rights Groups International.

On-line searches of news articles.

Oral sources.