Kuwait’s decision to revoke the citizenship of Muslim Brotherhood leader Tareq Al-Suwaidan highlights his long history of antisemitism, political agitation, and clashes with governments across the region and abroad.
Last week, regional newspapers and social-media platforms were filled with reports that Kuwait’s Emir, Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, signed Royal Decree No. 277 of 2025 revoking the citizenship of Dr. Tareq Al-Suwaidan (طارق السويدان). Suwaidan is a well-known Islamic preacher and a senior Muslim Brotherhood figure. The decree did not include an official explanation, fueling speculation.
Reports circulating in the region claim the revocation stems from the fact that although Suwaidan was born in Kuwait, he was not a citizen by birth. His father was a Syrian worker, and Suwaidan allegedly naturalized while providing false information. Israeli reports rightly add that Suwaidan has a long record of openly antisemitic statements in sermons, lectures, interviews, books, and social-media posts.
Suwaidan has publicly identified himself as a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood — something rare among Brotherhood members, who usually deny affiliation when exposed. Beyond preaching, he is a businessman, holds a PhD in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa, and co-founded the American Creativity Academy in Kuwait, providing US-style education “while preserving Islamic values.”
