Kuwait Passes Law To Make DNA Testing Mandatory

In a move that will make privacy advocates cringe, Kuwait passed a law yesterday making DNA tests mandatory for all residents. According to the AFP, people who refuse testing will face a year in prison and a hefty fine.

The draconian law will establish a comprehensive database of all residents in Kuwait, presumably making it easier for law enforcement to track down criminals after the fact. The country’s 1.3 million citizens and 2.9 million foreign residents will all be affected. Roughly $400 million has been set aside to implement the national DNA database program.

Many countries, including England, Sweden and the United States, routinely store the DNA of convicted criminals. Kuwait’s program would be the first such mandatory DNA test for every resident of a given country, regardless of criminal history.

The law was passed in reaction to the recent June 26 terrorist attack by ISIS in Kuwait City. The suicide bombing killed 26 people and wounded 227 others.

“We have approved the DNA testing law and approved the additional funding,” local politician Jamal al-Omar said according to the AFP. “We are prepared to approve anything needed to boost security measures in the country.”

While refusing to submit to a DNA sample will get you locked up for a year, anyone who tries to submit a fake DNA sample faces up to seven years in prison.

[AFP]
http://gizmodo.com/kuwait-just-made-dna-tests-mandatory-for-all-residents-1715512034
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3146898/EVERYONE-living-Kuwait-ordered-supply-DNA-sample-police-able-solve-crimes-quicker.html

if only this thing came early, hii problem ya wasomali kuchukua fake I.Ds would be a thing of the past. Family lines zingekuwa zikijulikana

A very good idea. It helps in identifying violent criminals, rapists and their connection to victims etc

That should be introduced in Kenya. Politicians should clamour for it’s execution then keep off. Scandals hapana.

One thing about these Arab countries is that wakiamua, wameamua.

Hakuna mambo na “draconian” Kenyans need such.