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Riyadh: Saudi authorities started granting citizenship to sons of Saudi women married to non-Saudis, on condition they are born in the kingdom and have reached adulthood, members of the Shura Council announced yesterday.
"This is a great gain and a good thing," Mohammad Al Zulfa, member of Shura Council, told Gulf News.
A Saudi press report published in Riyadh yesterday announced the beginning of granting citizenship to thousands of sons of Saudi women married to non-Saudi men if they are born in the country and have reached adulthood.
Member of Shura Council Abdul Qader Kamal was quoted as saying sons of Saudi women will be given, if they have reached the legal age, the option between Saudi citizenship or to keep the original one, which is that of their fathers.
Saudi citizenship will be granted to male children immediately once they choose it, Kamal added in a statement to Arabic language Al Hayat newspaper. As for females born in the kingdom to Saudi mothers and non-Saudi fathers, they will be given a 'card', and full citizenship once they get married to Saudi men.
Cards to be issued
"I believe this is, to a great extent, a reasonable solution," said Al Zulfa. "I believe this solves the problem of Saudi women married to non-Saudis," he added.
And before reaching legal age, children of Saudi women will be given 'cards' at birth that make them enjoy all benefits Saudi citizens enjoy, noted Al Zulfa.
The problem of passing on mother's nationality to children born to fathers of different nationalities exists in almost all Arab countries. Very few countries allow women to pass on their nationality to their children, and in some other countries, only in certain cases. Women groups and advocates have been campaigning in many Arab countries for amendment of laws to solve problems of women married to men of different nationalities.
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