New Bill Would Allow Mothers to Pass on Nationality

The Syrian parliament is preparing to vote on a new law that would allow mothers to pass on their nationality to their children.



Under current law, men who marry foreign women can pass their nationality to wives and children, but the same is not true of women who marry foreigners, placing them at a legal disadvantage during child custody disputes, and leaving the children effectively stateless.



A similar bill was rejected last year because of fears that it would encourage Palestinian residents to abandon their refugee status.