Kuwait passed a law ordering mandatory DNA testing of all its subjects and foreign residents following a deadly mosque bombing in the country's capital.
An estimated 1.3 million citizens and 2.9 million foreigners have to submit their DNA to the interior ministry, which is tasked with compiling a comprehensive database of people in the country, RT reported.
The Arab country is the first in the world to gather gene samples of the entire population, as opposed to merely storing the DNA of convicted criminals, which law enforcement in many countries do.
Special funding of some $400 million was allocated for the creation of the database. Those who fail to submit samples could face a prison term of one year and a fine of up to $33,000. Those who falsify their samples can be jailed for up to seven years under the new law.
The Kuwaiti legislature passed the law in response to the bombing at Imam Sadiq (PBUH) Mosque in Kuwait City during Friday prayers on June 26, which killed 27 people and wounded 227. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The suicide bomber was reportedly identified as a Saudi-born national who arrived in Kuwait via Bahrain just hours before the attack.
