Document #1195701
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The following information was provided
during a 9 November 1998 telephone interview with a Lebanese lawyer
who specializes in citizenship cases in Lebanon and who wrote a
book on the subject called "La Nationalité Libanaise."
The lawyer stated that according to
Lebanese law a father automatically transmit his Lebanese
citizenship to his children, whether a son or a daughter. The issue
of registration of one's Lebanese citizenship in a Lebanese Embassy
is irrelevant to the children's right to Lebanese citizenship. It
is a right recognized in the Constitution.
The lawyer added that a grandfather cannot
directly transmit his Lebanese citizenship to his grandson.
However, if the son of the grandfather is a Lebanese citizen, the
grandson is automatically a Lebanese citizen, whether or not he was
registered at the Embassy of Lebanon in Mexico. It would only be an
administrative formality.
For additional information on the
acquisition of Lebanese citizenship, please consult LBN27535.E of
22 August 1997.
The lawyer was of the opinion that a
Christian of Lebanese descent from Mexico would have difficulties
resettling in Lebanon.
The following information was provided
during a 6 November 1998 telephone interview with the Director of
the Centre For Lebanese Studies in Oxford, England. The Centre has
published a study on the Lebanese community abroad, including
Mexico.
The Director stated that a Christian of
Lebanese descent from Mexico would not have problems to resettling
to Lebanon.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate 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.
References
Citizenship lawyer, Beirut, Lebanon. 9
November 1998. Telephone interview.
Director, Centre for Lebanese Studies,
Oxford, England. 6 November 1998. Telephone interview.