Nationality Law

LAW

Nationality Law

REFERENCE Legislative Decree 276/1969
DATE OF PROMULGATION Promulgated by President Nour Al-Din Atassi on November 24, 1969
RELEVANT PROVISIONS
  • Adopts the principle of jus sanguinis, which holds that nationality is determined solely by the parent’s nationality and the place of birth is irrelevant.
  • In this case, the father’s nationality is relevant.
  • This law gives the Minister of Interior the authority to regulate the naturalization of foreigners but also allows for special considerations when the applicants are Arabs so as to hasten the naturalization process for them.
RELATED LEGISLATION
  • Repeals the previous law contained in Legislative Decree 67/1961.
  • A number of nationality laws were passed since the time period of the French mandate up to 1969.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
  • This law seeks to reflect the pan-Arab approach adopted by the ruling Baath Party to a certain extent at the time of its enactment.