An official at the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Washington, DC, contacted by telephone on 23 May 1997, stated that Syria allows dual citizenship with Lebanon. The sociologist Uri Davis, in a 1996 article in Arab Studies Quarterly, also writes that Syrian law allows dual citizenship, although he does not refer specifically to Lebanon (39).

Syria's "Legislative Decree No. 276 and its Amendments No. 17" of 13 February 1972, which is attached to Request for Information SYR10518 of 27 April 1992, provides further information on Syrian citizenship.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in preparing this Response.

Arab Studies Quarterly [Lake Forest, Illinois]. Winter 1996. Vol. 18, No. 1. Uri Davis. "Citizenship Legislation in the Syrian Arab Republic."

Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic, Washington, DC. 23 May 1997. Telephone interview with an official.

Syria. Legislative Decree No. 276 and its Amendments No. 17. 13 February 1972. Translated by Ibrahim H. Hourany, Damascus, Syria, for the Department of External Affairs of Canada.

Blaustein, Albert P. March 1997. Vol. 19. "Syria." Constitutions of the Countries of the World.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997. United States Department of State.

Immigration and Nationality Law and Practice [Surrey]. 1990-1997.

UNHCR Refworld Database.