Hit the road Jack! Foreigners driven out of Kuwait for driving offences

Ahlan Wa Sahlan? Foreigners could soon switch to bikes if they want to stay in Kuwait.

Hundreds of expatriates have been expelled out of Kuwait for traffic offences according to a report issued on Sunday.

The Al-Anbaa newspaper cited a senior interior ministry official as saying that

As many as 1,258 foreigners have been deported for driving offences violations since a crackdown was launched a month ago.

Offenses range from driving without a license or jumping a red light for a second time to breaking the speed limit by more than 40 kilometers per hour and result in the expat offender being deported without a court order.

Describing the phenomenon as being “oppressive”, the Kuwait Society for Human Rights has requested the government to put an end to the deportations.

“The oppressive measure against expatriates... violates the basic principles of human rights,” it said.

Warning that it could tarnish Kuwait's image in the world, the organization also highlighted that the country's human rights record is currently being watched closely.

There are over 2.5 million expatriates in Kuwait, standing for over half the country's total population.

In case of offence, a Kuwaiti national only risk his vehicle being seized but does not face a court sentence.

Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Thekra al-Rasheedi said last month that around 100,000 expatriates will be deported each year to reduce the number of foreignersin Kuwait, the AFP reported.

For a foreigner to uphold the right to a driver's license in Kuwait, the following requirements need to be met: have a university degree, earn 400 dinars ($1,400)  per month and have lived in Kuwait for at least two years, according to the AFP.