Khalid, 23, studied to become a nurse. Unable to find a job, he worked informally at a call center. In March 2012 he was arrested after a bidoon demonstration. He was detained for five days and was not permitted to communicate with his family or his employer. When he was released, he found that he had lost his job and has been unable to work since.

“The Kuwaiti bidoon participate in peaceful demonstrations because it is the only way left after all of these years of deprivation. Our fathers and grandfathers stayed patient. Declarations are issued practically every day now just to demand our rights. Now we are asking in a peaceful way just to be granted our basic rights, but we are repressed and treated in a shameful way.”