Citizens in the Dark. The Persistent Social and Human Rights Impact of Lebanon’s 1925 Nationality Act

This thesis looks into the long-term social and human rights implications of Lebanon's 1925 Nationality Act, which is still one of the most visible examples of legal gender discrimination in the country. The legislation restricts Lebanese women the right to pass on their nationality to their children or foreign spouses, a restriction founded on patriarchal and sectarian beliefs. The key topic of this thesis is "What are the social and human rights impacts of Lebanon's nationality law on affected families?" By integrating qualitative interviews with thorough legal and historical analysis, the study presents a comprehensive assessment of the negative implications of this law. The thesis emphasises the emotional, psychological, and economic hardships placed on stateless families through primary research, which includes in-depth interviews with individuals directly affected by the law. Interviewees described limited access to school, healthcare, and work, as well as the deep emotional impact of feeling marginalised in their own nation. The accounts reflect a widespread fear of exclusion, both in life and in death, with many expressing concern about where they will be buried due to their lack of legal status. Secondary study puts Lebanon's nationality law in historical and political context, linking its beginnings to the sectarian and patriarchal systems that continue to affect the country's legal framework. The study also investigates how Lebanon's political environment and regional problems, such as the Palestinian and Syrian refugee crises, have influenced the government's unwillingness to alter the law. The thesis also compares Lebanon's nationality policy to international human rights frameworks such as CEDAW and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), highlighting Lebanon's failure to satisfy its responsibilities. Finally, this thesis argues that Lebanon's nationality law fosters systematic discrimination, statelessness, and human rights violations, notably among women and their children. It advocates for quick legal reform, promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of stateless people. Lebanon's nationality law must be revised not only legally, but also morally and in regard to human rights, for the country's future.