Anti-government demonstration in Kuwait City.

KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait’s government has revoked the citizenship of two opposition figures and some family members and shut two media outlets, the state news agency, Kuna reported, in moves that could deepen a political crisis in the U.S.-allied Gulf Arab state.

The move comes after the cabinet adopted what it called an “iron fist policy” last week, following protests over the arrest of a prominent opposition politician, in which the cabinet threatened to remove the citizenship of people suspected of trying to “undermine the stability” of the state.

KUNA said the cabinet agreed at a meeting late on Monday to impose the measures on Ahmed al-Jabr as well as on Abdullah Barghash, his two brothers and his sister, on the recommendations of the interior minister.

The decision will make them lose some of the state benefits that citizens enjoy, including public healthcare, education and housing. But they do not face imminent expulsion.

Jabr is the chairman of the al-Youm, an opposition TV channel, and Barghash is a former parliament member.

However, pro-democracy activist Nasser al-Abdaly said the government was relying on rarely used laws to target “some of those who oppose the policies of the government.”

He said Barghash’s citizenship was revoked under a law that forbids Kuwaitis from dual citizenship, while Jabr was targeted under a law that requires naturalized Kuwaitis to avoid committing any crime for 20 years.

He said authorities had accused Jabr of working against Kuwait’s security and stability.