By Nejoud Al-Yagout

The latest news is that there is a proposal in place that expatriates are only allowed to own one car. The rationale is that expatriates make up most of the population, but somehow lawmakers conveniently overlooked the fact that the majority of foreigners are laborers and domestic workers who do not even own one car, let alone two! So, although Kuwaitis are a minority, it is the local population that is contributing to traffic congestion, since in many Kuwaiti households, each member of the family has a car (and another car for their driver).

And, even so, why are we depriving foreigners who have two cars of their right, just like Kuwaitis, to own more than one car if they are able to? They are already not allowed to drive pick-ups. We have already made it difficult for foreigners to obtain a driver’s license by ensuring they meet educational level and salary requirements! What’s next?

Are we going to control how much they are allowed to spend on a car one day? Are we going to subject them to curfew at certain times of the day, so our highways and roads can be cleared for locals?

It seems that we are doing all we can to show expatriates that they are second-class citizens and are subject to laws that differ from those imposed upon locals. In most countries of the world, this would rightfully and aptly be called discrimination.

But in our country, if an expatriate complains about being discriminated against, they would be jailed, fired, and/or deported. And instead of being protected by locals who protest on their behalf, the loudest voices on social media and in the public sphere would applaud Kuwait’s decisions. Why? Why are we doing this?

All in all, regardless of who is contributing to traffic, however, laws are supposed to apply to all members of the community, not just locals. According to Article 29 of the Kuwait constitution, “all people are equal in human dignity and in public rights and duties before the law, without distinction to race, origin, language, or religion.”

This is the constitution of Kuwait. It is not a whimsical document that changes as minds narrow. Our constitution is to be respected and is there to ensure that all people residing in Kuwait are equal before the law.

And according to Article 79 of the Kuwait constitution, “no law may be promulgated unless it has been passed by the National Assembly and sanctioned by the Amir.” Since we don’t have a Parliament now, and the decision was announced by a ministry official, we have not only gone against our constitution, but we seem to have forgotten the importance of a constitution. It was created for stability and confidence.

Without respecting our constitution, decision makers can continue to exploit community members; and the only victims, if we are frank, are foreigners, because Kuwaitis are not just protected by the law, but in some cases are even above it. Without respecting our constitution, playing with the lives of foreigners is, as we have seen, fair game.

Is this the kind of country that our forefathers envisioned when they wrote the constitution? And where are the voices of local lawyers who know that this is against the law? Will we only hear their voices when the law affects us personally?

Kuwait has sent a message loud and clear to expatriates, since the infamous words of an ex-Parliamentarian who taunted foreigners by stating that they should be taxed for the air they breathe. And it’s a grievous message that goes against spiritual, constitutional, and humanitarian principles. The message is that we can control expatriates’ lives, even at the expense of foregoing laws and constitutional rights, while Kuwaitis will continue to live privileged lives that impinge upon others, all the while protected by legal systems.

We can continue to go down this worrisome and inhumane path. However, history has proven that what goes around comes around. Our privileges will not last forever. And it may be our turn to travel the world looking for a better life, only to find that we are unwelcome. They say it is never too late to redeem ourselves. But in the case of discrimination and humiliation, there is always an expiry date ...

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