21. Juli 2023

Kurzbeschreibungen zu den in dieser Anfragebeantwortung verwendeten Quellen sowie Ausschnitte mit Informationen aus diesen Quellen finden Sie im Anhang.

Diskriminierung und Einschränkungen im Alltag und im Umgang mit staatlichen Einrichtungen

Human Rights Watch (HRW) schreibt in einem Bericht vom April 2023, dass Kinder von jordanischen Müttern und nicht-jordanischen Vätern (auf Arabisch: abna‘ al-urduniyat, wörtlich: Kinder von Jordanierinnen, in dieser Anfragebeantwortung auch als „Kinder jordanischer Mütter“ bezeichnet) in Jordanien Schwierigkeiten hätten, grundlegende Rechte und Dienstleistungen zu erhalten. Die Kinder würden ihr Leben lang als ausländische Staatsangehörige behandelt (HRW, April 2023, S. 1, siehe auch: HRW, April 2018, S. 1; HRW, 7. Oktober 2018).

Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) beschreibt in einem Artikel vom Juni 2022, dass Kinder jordanischer Mütter bei der Beantragung oder Beglaubigung offizieller Dokumente wie auch bei der Erneuerung ihres Führerscheins höhere Gebühren zahlen müssten als jordanische Staatsbürger·innen (ARIJ, 6. Juni 2022).

Laut HRW hätten Kinder jordanischer Mütter Schwierigkeiten, Bankkonten zu eröffnen und sich einen Telefon- oder Internetanschluss einrichten zu lassen. Junge Männer seien bei der Heirat mit erheblichen gesellschaftlichen Nachteilen konfrontiert. Eine jordanische Mutter nicht-jordanischer Kinder erklärte gegenüber HRW, dass sie zwei Töchter habe, die mit Jordaniern verheiratet seien. Ihre Söhne hätten jedoch Probleme. Sie hätten keine Berufsaussichten, keine Heiratsaussichten und könnten nicht wie andere Bürger im Land leben (HRW, April 2018, S. 6). The New Arab erklärt in einem Artikel vom März 2022, dass es nicht-jordanischen Frauen möglich sei, die jordanische Staatsbürgerschaft durch eine Heirat mit einem Jordanier zu erhalten. Der Ehemann könne sich jedoch auch weigern, seine Staatsbürgerschaft an seine Ehefrau weiterzugebene. Einige würden dies tun, um zu verhindern, dass die Frau arbeiten oder ins Ausland reisen könne (The New Arab, 16. März 2022). The New Arab erklärt in dem Artikel weiters, dass die rechtliche Diskriminierung und die Abhängigkeit der Kinder von der jordanischen Mutter sich bis in Erwachsenenalter fortsetzen würden. Beim Tod der Mutter könnten so einfache Vorgänge wie die Erneuerung der Aufenthaltspapiere, der Zugang zur Krankenversicherung oder der Kauf von Eigentum kompliziert werden (The New Arab, 16. März 2022).

Freedom House schreibt in seinem Jahresbericht 2023, dass Kinder jordanischer Mütter, die selbst keine Staatsbürgerschaft besitzen würden, ohne einen speziellen Ausweis, der schwer zu bekommen sei, Schwierigkeiten beim Zugang zu Arbeit, Bildung und Gesundheitsversorgung hätten (Freedom House, 2023, G1).

Ausweis für Kinder jordanischer Mütter und nicht-jordanischer Väter

2014 habe das jordanische Kabinett einen Beschluss erlassen, um die Beschränkungen für Kinder jordanischer Frauen in sechs Bereichen zu lockern: Beschäftigungsmöglichkeiten, öffentliche Bildung, staatliche Gesundheitsvorsorge, Besitz von Immobilien, Investitionen und Erwerb eines Führerscheins (HRW, April 2018, S. 3; siehe auch: HRW, 7. Oktober 2018; ARIJ, 6. Juni 2022). Mit dem Kabinettsbeschluss sei außerdem ein spezieller Personalausweis für die Kinder jordanischer Mütter und nicht-jordanischer Väter eingeführt worden (HRW, April 2018, S. 3).

Den Originaltext des Beschlusses (Nr. 6415 vom 9. November 2014) auf Arabisch finden Sie unter folgendem Link:

·      Anweisungen zur Umsetzung des Ministerratsbeschlusses bezüglich der Gewährung von Erleichterungen für Kinder jordanischer Frauen, die mit Nicht-Jordaniern verheiratet sind, für das Jahr 2014, herausgegeben gemäß den Bestimmungen von Klausel (5) der Kabinettsresolution Nr. 6415 vom 9. November 2014 [Arabisch], veröffentlicht im Amtsblatt Nr. 5320, 31. Dezember 2014
https://doc.pm.gov.jo/DocuWare/PlatformRO/WebClient/Client/Document?did=34467&fc=7e6f119f-71f4-4ed3-8023-b6a6db8bcb15&orgId=1&_auth=AF0D64F6B7D6CB5E116AA0229B655B79948DD5FFE7EB1E928CB353BF0765E973E7C6351FC7D3714175E4435AE2B2DD4A9288BC1CCBBCF0920E4037055A41325B9B665A2322005205239EF4B2B7F22804C4640706687BA5AC34BFA813BC84530F69BB7ADDCCFFEA8145D59254C5D6465963AB27EC48B2A5D1A6D7332D41D303CB033E3691991A5623C93FBEDF2E36EC750DC2ED14BBBC6E771AC02A83D7AB3FAF8AF7A44A7C73DECB658BF98A9768A3293218F902A7726FFA3045957A44EF781F71BE57B8BB2944D6C91E01D22412D69C34606C86CA70D2F516B7822683EF167CE582E89D6F3D08F4D07AE64E157673E7

Laut Rami Al-Wakil, Koordinator der Kampagne „Meine Mutter ist Jordanierin“, seien die durch den Kabinettsbeschluss entstandenen „Privilegien“ für Kinde jordanischer Mütter nicht allumfassend („comprehensive“) (ARIJ, 6. Juni 2022). Auch HRW schreibt, dass die Reform, selbst bei vollständiger Umsetzung, weiterhin Teil eines eindeutig diskriminierenden Systems seien (HRW, April 2018, S. 3). Unter anderem müssten Kinder jordanischer Mütter weiterhin jährlich um die Erneuerung ihre Aufenthaltserlaubnis ansuchen (HRW, April 2018, S. 3. Ein Anwalt erklärte gegenüber dem Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) im November 2018, dass der Ausweis für Kinder jordanischer Mütter theoretisch deren Zugang zu Bildung, Gesundheitsversorgung und Arbeit erleichtere. In der Praxis würden die Kinder diese Rechte jedoch weiterhin nur eingeschränkt genießen und es sei ihnen auch nicht möglich, gleichgestellt mit jordanischen Bürger·innen in Jordanien zu investieren oder Eigentum zu besitzen (IRB, 7. November 2018).

Laut HRW sei es einer beträchtlichen Anzahl von Kindern jordanischer Mütter nicht möglich, den 2014 eingeführten Ausweis zu erhalten. Einigen sei es nicht möglich, die lange Liste der für die Antragstellung erforderlichen Dokumente, darunter Reisepässe aus dem Herkunftsland des Vaters, Aufenthaltsgenehmigungen, Arbeitserlaubnisse, beglaubigte Geburtsurkunden und Sicherheitsfreigaben des jordanischen Geheimdienstes zu erhalten (HRW, April 2018, S. 4; siehe auch: IRB, 7. November 2018). Andere könnten sich die Beschaffung der Dokumente nicht leisten. Mit Stand Februar 2018 hätten die Behörden etwas mehr als 72.000 Ausweise ausgestellt. Dies seien weniger als 20 Prozent der geschätzten Zahl nichtjordanischer Kinder jordanischer Frauen in Jordanien (HRW, April 2018, S. 4). Rami Al-Wakil und die Aktivistin Aroub Soboh merken zudem im Oktober 2018 gegenüber Jordan Times (JT) an, dass nicht alle staatlichen Behörden den Ausweis für Kinder jordanischer Mütter anerkennen würden. Soboh fügt hinzu, dass der Ausweis nicht als Errungenschaft angesehen werden könne, da er nur einer begrenzten Anzahl von Menschen zugutekomme, da viele Personen den Ausweis überhaupt nicht hätten (JT, 10. Oktober 2018).

Laut The New Arab habe der Beschluss zur Schaffung zweier Klassen von Kindern jordanischer Mütter geführt: denjenigen, denen es gelungen sei, Zugang zu den geschaffenen Privilegien zu erhalten, und jenen, denen dies nicht gelungen sei (The New Arab, 16. März 2022).

Die CRCJO Coalition schreibt in einem Bericht über die Umsetzung der Kinderrechtskonvention in Jordanien vom Juni 2022, dass sich die Situation für Personen, die einen Ausweis für Kinder jordanischer Mütter erhalten hätten, nicht merklich verbessert habe. Die Behörden würden sie weiterhin denselben Vorschriften unterwerfen wie ausländischen Staatsangehörigen. Verbesserungen gebe es lediglich in den Bereichen Gesundheit und Bildung (CRCJO Coalition, Juni 2022, S. 6; siehe auch: HRW, April 2018, S. 4). Laut dem 21-jährigen Kind eines ursprünglich aus dem Gazastreifen stammenden Palästinensers und einer jordanischer Mutter, der im Camp Jerash lebt, sei der Ausweis „nutzlos“. Der Ausweis sei in seinem Fall von der Polizei nicht als Personalausweis anerkannt worden. Die Zeit und das Geld, die nötig gewesen seien, um den Ausweis zu erhalten, seien verschwendet gewesen. Eine weitere Person habe gegenüber dem Palestinian Return Center (PRC) erklärt, dass er versucht habe, mit Hilfe des Ausweises ein Bankkonto zu eröffnen. Der Ausweis sei jedoch von der Bank abgelehnt worden (PRC, 25. Mai 2021, S. 6).

Am 10. September 2018 sei laut HRW vom jordanischen Kabinett die Anforderung für die Beantragung des Ausweises, dass die Mütter der Antragteller davor durchgängig fünf Jahre in Jordanien aufhältig hätten sein müssen, abgeschafft worden. Außerdem sei klargestellt worden, dass der Ausweis von Regierungsbehörden als gültiger Personalausweis angesehen werde (HRW, 7. Oktober 2018; siehe auch: HRW, April 2023, S. 2-3; JT, 10. Oktober 2018; Jordan News Agency, 10. September 2018). Laut HRW habe es mit Stand Oktober 2018 weiterhin viele Hindernisse beim Ansuchen um den Ausweis gegeben und einzelne Ministerien hätten viele ihrer Beschränkungen [gegenüber Kindern jordanischer Mütter] aufrechterhalten (HRW, 7. Oktober 2018; siehe auch: JT, 10. Oktober 2018).

HRW erklärt, dass angesichts der Tatsache, dass die Reform von 2014 in Form eines Kabinettsbeschlusses erfolgt sei, der keiner parlamentarischer Zustimmung bedurft habe, der Beschluss den Launen jeder nachfolgenden Regierung unterliege. Er könne jederzeit ergänzt, gänzlich geändert oder vollständig aufgehoben werden (HRW, April 2018, S. 6).

Zugang zu Bildung

Laut HRW müssten laut dem Kabinettsbeschluss Schulen Kinder jordanischer Mütter gleichberechtigt mit jordanischen Kindern behandeln (HRW, April 2018, S. 5; siehe auch: ARIJ, 6. Juni 2022, IRB, 7. November 2018). Dies befreie sie von den zusätzlichen Kosten, die für nicht-jordanische Schüler·innen anfallen würden, und ermögliche es, nicht-arabische Kinder jordanischer Mütter an öffentlichen Schulen einzuschreiben. Es könnten laut HRW jedoch nur Kinder mit einem Ausweis für Kinder jordanischer Mütter eingeschrieben werden (HRW, April 2018, S. 45-46). Die jordanische Mutter einer ägyptischen vierjährigen Tochter erklärte gegenüber The New Arab im März 2022, dass sie nicht die Mittel habe, für ihre Tochter einen Ausweis für Kinder jordanischer Mütter zu beantragen. Sie müsste zunächst einen ägyptischen Pass für ihre Tochter beantragen. Dieser koste jedoch 140 US-Dollar, und das könne sie sich nicht leisten. Sie wisse nicht, wie sie es schaffen solle, ihr Kind ohne den Ausweis in die Schule zu schicken (The New Arab, 16. März 2022).

Für alle anderen nicht-jordanischen Kinder gelte laut HRW, dass gemäß dem Bildungsgesetz jordanische [öffentliche] Schulen nicht-jordanische arabische Schüler·innen aufnehmen sollten, wenn diese über die erforderlichen Dokumente wie temporäre Reisepässe, Aufenthaltsgenehmigungen und gültige Arbeitserlaubnisse der Väter verfügen würden. Aber selbst, wenn diese Bedingungen erfüllt seien, sei eine Einschreibung nur möglich, wenn die Kapazitäten der Schule dies zulassen würden. Außerdem sei die Einschreibung mit deutlich höheren Kosten verbunden. Nicht-arabische ausländische Schüler·innen dürften sich nur an Privatschulen einschreiben. Im Falle von palästinensischen Schüler·innen würden nur Kinder, deren Eltern ursprünglich aus dem Westjordanland stammen würden, in jordanische [öffentliche] Schulen aufgenommen, aber nur dann, wenn sie eine Erlaubnis des Innenministeriums hätten. Palästinenser·innen, deren Eltern ursprünglich aus dem Gazastreifen seien, würden häufig in UNRWA-Schulen für palästinensische Flüchtlinge registriert (HRW, April 2018, S. 45-46).

Der bereits oben genannte Rami Al-Wakil erklärt gegenüber ARIJ, dass an den öffentlichen Universitäten nur 150 Plätze für Kinder jordanischer Mütter reserviert seien. Alle anderen würde über ein Parallelsystem als ausländische Student·innen registriert (ARIJ, 6. Juni 2022). Laut HRW könnten sich nur Personen mit besten Noten und einem Personalausweis [für Kinder jordanischer Mütter] um die 150 von der Regierung subventionierten Plätze bewerben (HRW, April 2018, S. 5). PRC ergänzt, dass sich viele Familien die internationalen Studiengebühren nicht leisten könnten (PRC, 25. Mai 2021, S. 6).

Zugang zu medizinischer Versorgung

HRW erklärt, dass es in Jordanien ein Krankenversicherungssystem gebe. Im Jahr 2015 seien jedoch mindestens 30 Prozent der Jordanier·innen und 74 Prozent der Nicht-Jordanier·innen nicht versichert gewesen. Patient·innen, die nicht versichert seien, würden eine Grundversorgung erhalten, müssten jedoch für sekundäre und tertiäre Gesundheitsversorgung selbst bezahlen. Es gebe weiters die Möglichkeit, um eine medizinische Ausnahmegenehmigung anzusuchen. Falls diese gewährt werde, übernehme die Regierung alle Kosten für Behandlungen. Eine solche Ausnahmegenehmigung werde laut HRW Ausländer·innen jedoch kaum bewilligt (HRW, April 2018, S. 41). Beim Zugang zu öffentlichen Gesundheitsdiensten würden Nicht-Jordanier·innen zwischen 35 und 60 Prozent höhere Gebühren als nicht versicherte Jordanier·innen bezahlen (HRW, April 2018, S. 42).

Laut HRW gebe es durch den genannten Beschluss von 2014 spürbare Verbesserung für Kinder jordanischer Mütter in öffentlichen Krankenhäusern. Kurz nach Erlass des Kabinettsbeschlusses habe das Gesundheitsministerium eigene Vorschriften verbreitet, die öffentliche Krankenhäuser dazu aufgefordert hätten, nicht versicherte Kinder jordanischer Mütter genauso wie nicht versicherte Jordanier·innen zu behandeln. Wie auch im Bildungssystem könnten nur Personen mit einem Ausweis für Kinder jordanischer Mütter dies in Anspruch nehmen, und einige berechtigte Personen hätten gegenüber HRW berichtet, dass sie höhere Gebühren in Krankenhäusern hätten zahlen müssen, obwohl sie den genannten Ausweis als Nachweis ihres Status vorgelegt hätten. Anfang 2018 habe das Gesundheitsministerium erklärt, dass nur Personen unter 18 Jahren den nicht versicherten Jordanier·innen gleichgestellt seien. Dies sei nicht im ursprünglichen Beschluss inkludiert gewesen (HRW, April 2018, S. 5).

Auch Al-Wakil erklärt im Juni 2022, dass Kinder jordanischer Mütter im Gesundheitswesen bis zum Alter von achtzehn Jahren wie Jordanier·innen behandelt würden, danach jedoch wie Ausländer·innen (ARIJ, 6. Juni 2022; siehe auch: The New Arab, 16. März 2022).

Ein Jusprofessor erklärt gegenüber IRB im September 2018, dass Kinder jordanischer Mütter, die durch ihren Job staatlich versichert seien, von dieser Versicherung profitieren könnten (IRB, 7. November 2018).

Zugang zu Hilfs- und Sozialleistungen

Das US-amerikanische Außenministerium (USDOS) schreibt in seinem Jahresbericht für das Jahr 2022, dass Kinder jordanischer Mütter, die Sozialleistungen beantragen wollten, im Land wohnen und die Verwandtschaft zur Mutter nachweisen müssten (USDOS, 20. März 2023, Section 6).

Es konnten keine weiteren Informationen zum Zugang von Kindern jordanischer Mütter zu Hilfs- und Sozialleistungen in Jordanien gefunden werden.

Laut Fragomen müssten auch ausländische Staatsangehörige der jordanischen Sozialversicherungsgesellschaft (Social Security Corporation, SSC) beitreten, bevor sie eine Arbeitserlaubnis erteilt bekämen. Die Sozialversicherung ermögliche unter anderem den Erhalt von Arbeitslosengeld (Fragomen, 23. Jänner 2023).

Den genauen Text des Sozialversicherungsgesetzes Nr 1 von 2014 (mit Novellierungen) auf Englisch finden Sie unter folgendem Link:

·      Social Security Law, Law No. (1) for the year 2014 and its amendments, Social Security Corporation (Hg.), Mai 2022
https://www.ssc.gov.jo/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Social-Security-Law-No.1-for-the-year-2014-and-its-amendments.pdf

Es konnte nicht herausgefunden werden, ob dieses Gesetz auch für Kinder jordanischer Mütter und ursprünglich aus dem Gazastreifen stammender Väter gilt.

Immobilienbesitz, Investitionen und der Erwerb eines Führerscheins

HRW erklärt im April 2018, dass Immobilienbesitz, Investitionen und der Erwerb eines Führerscheins in den Beschluss von 2014 mitaufgenommen worden seien. Trotz allem hätten die Behörden laut HRW keine erkennbaren Änderungen in den drei Bereichen vorgenommen. Einige Regierungsbehörden würden nun zusätzlich zu den ursprünglich für Dienstleistungen erforderlichen Dokumenten den neuen Personalausweis für Kinder jordanischer Mütter verlangen, was Kinder ausschließe, die den Ausweis nicht hätten (HRW, April 2018, S. 5). Laut HRW würden Kinder jordanischer Frauen bei Immobilienbesitz und Investitionen den gleichen Gesetzen wie Nicht-Jordanier·innen unterliegen. Wenn sie eine gültige Aufenthaltserlaubnis hätten, dürften sie einen privaten Führerschein erwerben (HRW, April 2018, S. 24-25; siehe auch: IRB, 7. November 2018). Ausländer·innen könnten nur mit einer Genehmigung des Finanzministeriums, des Innenministeriums, der Land- und Grenzdirektion oder des General Intelligence Directorate Eigentum erwerben, ein Auto oder Unternehmen anmelden oder ihre Investitionen liquidieren. Aufgrund der restriktiven Natur dieser Gesetze würden die meisten Familien ihren gesamten Besitz auf den Namen ihrer (jordanischen) Mutter registrieren. Es sei Nicht-Jordanier·innen möglich zu erben. Doch auch dieser Prozess könne laut HRW langwierig und mühsam sein (HRW, April 2018, S. 49). Laut einem von IRB interviewten Juristen sei es Kindern palästinensischer Väter in Jordanien nicht erlaubt Eigentum zu besitzen (IRB, 7. November 2018).

Auswirkung der palästinensischen Abstammung des Vaters

Es konnten kaum Informationen über spezielle Auswirkungen der palästinensischen Abstammung des Vaters gefunden werden.

HRW zitiert die Tochter einer jordanischen Mutter und eines Vaters, der ursprünglich aus dem Gazastreifen komme. Obwohl es Nicht-Jordanier·innen erlaubt sei, mit den erforderlichen staatlichen Genehmigungen Unternehmen in ihrem Namen zu registrieren, sei es ihr nicht möglich gewesen, die Genehmigung des Ministeriums für Industrie und Handel zu erhalten. Ihr Antrag sei mit der Begründung abgelehnt worden, dass sie als ursprünglich aus dem Gazastreifen stammende Palästinenserin keine nationale Nummer habe. Inhaber·innen temporärer Pässe würden einer zusätzlichen Prüfung unterzogen werden, da sie unter Umständen die Genehmigung des Ministerrats einholen müssten (HRW, April 2018, S. 50-51).

Wie oben beschrieben, sei es laut HRW Kindern, deren Vorfahren aus dem Gazastreifen nach Jordanien gekommen seien, generell nicht erlaubt, öffentliche Schulen zu besuchen (HRW, April 2018, S. 45-46). Laut HRW ermögliche der Besitz eines Ausweises für Kinder arabischer Mütter auch nicht-arabischen Kindern jordanischer Mütter, die ohne Ausweis von diesem Recht ausgenommen seien, sich an öffentlichen Schulen einzuschreiben (HRW, April 2018, S. 45-46). Kinder einer jordanischen Mutter und eines Vaters, der ursprünglich aus dem Gazastreifen komme, werden in diesem Zusammenhang nicht speziell genannt.

Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit

Laut Artikel 12 (E) des jordanischen Arbeitsrechts Nr. 8 von 1996 sind Kinder jordanischer Frauen und nichtjordanischer Männer mit Wohnsitz in Jordanien von der Notwendigkeit einer Einholung einer Arbeitserlaubnis befreit (Jordanisches Arbeitsrecht Nr. 8 von 1996 inklusive Novellierungen, Artikel 12, siehe auch: Al-Rai, 13. November 2019). Laut der CRCJO Coalition könnten Kinder jordanischer Frauen im Alter zwischen 16 und 18 Jahren vom Recht ohne Arbeitserlaubnis zu arbeiten profitieren (CRCJO Coalition, Juni 2022, S. 6). Die Richtigkeit der letzteren Aussage konnte nicht durch weitere Quellen verifiziert werden.

Es konnte nicht herausgefunden werden, ob der Besitz des oben beschriebenen Ausweises für Kinder jordanischer Mütter eine Voraussetzung für die Befreiung von der Arbeitserlaubnis ist.

In Jordanien gebe es eine Reihe von „geschlossenen“ Berufen, die nur von jordanischen Staatsbürger·innen ausgeübt werden dürften. Laut Ahmad Awad, Direktor des jordanischen Phenix Centre for Economics and Informatics Studies, würden die entsprechenden Richtlinien regelmäßig von der Regierung abgeändert. JT berichtet im April 2023 über eine neue Richtlinie mit einer neuen Liste von Berufen und Handwerken, deren Ausübung Nicht-Jordanier·innen verboten sei. Ahmad Awad spricht sich gegenüber JT dafür aus, dass derartige Richtlinien zwischen ursprünglich aus dem Gazastreifen stammenden Palästinenser·innen mit temporärem Pass sowie Kindern von jordanischen Müttern einerseits und anderen ausländischen Arbeiter·innen andererseits unterscheiden sollten (JT, 9. April 2023). HRW schreibt im April 2018, dass der genannte Beschluss von 2014 Besitzer·innen eines Ausweises für Kinder jordanischer Mütter erlaube in Berufen zu arbeiten, die sonst nur Jordanier·innen vorbehalten seien, sofern keine Jordanier·innen für den Job verfügbar seien (HRW, April 2018, S. 25). Ein Jurist („Associate“) erklärte gegenüber IRB im September 2018, dass es Kindern jordanischer Mütter nicht erlaubt sei, in geschlossenen Berufen zu arbeiten, außer sie hätten eine Vorabgenehmigung der betroffenen Behörden, die nicht leicht zu bekommen sei. Laut einem Anwalt hätten jordanische Staatsbürger·innen Vorrang vor den Kindern jordanischer Mütter bei „geschlossenen“ Berufen. Im Gegensatz dazu erklärte ein Jusprofessor, dass es durch die Abschaffung der verpflichtenden Arbeitserlaubnis für Kinder jordanischer Mütter diesen Personen nun möglich sei, im Privatsektor in Berufen zu arbeiten, die zuvor nur Jordanier·innen vorbehalten gewesen seien. Es sei ihnen jedoch weiterhin nicht erlaubt für die Regierung zu arbeiten (IRB, 7. November 2018).

Weitere Informationen über „geschlossene Berufe“ finden Sie im dritten Teil dieser Anfragebeantwortung (

Der palästinensische Ehemann einer jordanischen Frau erklärte gegenüber HRW im Jahr 2018, dass seine Tochter sich dagegen entschieden habe Jus zu studieren, da sie [aufgrund ihres Status] nicht in die Jurist·innenvereinigung aufgenommen werde. Sie studiere stattdessen „Medien und Kommunikation“. Sein Sohn studiere Informatik. Laut der Mutter der Kinder würden die Eltern sich große Sorgen um die beruflichen Möglichkeiten ihrer Kinder machen (HRW, April 2018, S. 39).

Quellen: (Zugriff auf alle Quellen am [Veröffentlichungsdatum])

·      Al-Rai: Das Arbeitsministerium kam seinen Verpflichtungen gegenüber der Bevölkerung von Gaza nicht nach [Arabisch], 13. November 2019
https://alrai.com/article/10510179/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84-%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%81-%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9

·      Anweisungen zur Umsetzung des Ministerratsbeschlusses bezüglich der Gewährung von Erleichterungen für Kinder jordanischer Frauen, die mit Nicht-Jordaniern verheiratet sind, für das Jahr 2014, herausgegeben gemäß den Bestimmungen von Klausel (5) der Kabinettsresolution Nr. 6415 vom 9. November 2014 [Arabisch], veröffentlicht im Amtsblatt Nr. 5320, 31. Dezember 2014
https://doc.pm.gov.jo/DocuWare/PlatformRO/WebClient/Client/Document?did=34467&fc=7e6f119f-71f4-4ed3-8023-b6a6db8bcb15&orgId=1&_auth=AF0D64F6B7D6CB5E116AA0229B655B79948DD5FFE7EB1E928CB353BF0765E973E7C6351FC7D3714175E4435AE2B2DD4A9288BC1CCBBCF0920E4037055A41325B9B665A2322005205239EF4B2B7F22804C4640706687BA5AC34BFA813BC84530F69BB7ADDCCFFEA8145D59254C5D6465963AB27EC48B2A5D1A6D7332D41D303CB033E3691991A5623C93FBEDF2E36EC750DC2ED14BBBC6E771AC02A83D7AB3FAF8AF7A44A7C73DECB658BF98A9768A3293218F902A7726FFA3045957A44EF781F71BE57B8BB2944D6C91E01D22412D69C34606C86CA70D2F516B7822683EF167CE582E89D6F3D08F4D07AE64E157673E7

·      ARIJ – Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism: Children of Jordanian Mothers Have Fewer Rights at Higher Costs, 6. Juni 2022
https://arij.net/projects/Who-is-responsible-en/reports/rep38.html

·      CRCJO Coalition: Alternative Report on the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Jordan, Juni 2022
https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2082586/INT_CRC_NGO_JOR_49386_E.docx

·      Fragomen: Jordan: Mandatory Social Security Subscription and Process Changes, 23. Jänner 2023
https://www.fragomen.com/insights/jordan-mandatory-social-security-subscription-and-process-changes.html#:~:text=Foreign%20nationals%20are%20now%20required,the%20sponsoring%20entity%20in%20Jordan.

·      Freedom House: Freedom in the World 2022 - Jordan, 2023
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2094369.html

·      HRW – Human Rights Watch: “I Just Want Him to Live Like Other Jordanians” Treatment of Non-Citizen Children of Jordanian Mothers, April 2018
https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/jordan0418_web2.pdf

·      HRW – Human Rights Watch: Jordan: Small Step for Non-Citizen Children, 7. Oktober 2018
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/10/07/jordan-small-step-non-citizen-children

·      HRW – Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child Review of Jordan, 93^rd Session, April 2023
https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2023/04/Human%20Rights%20Watch%20Submission%20to%20the%20Committee%20on%20the%20Rights%20of%20the%20Child%2093%20-%20Review%20of%20Jordan.pdf

·      IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada: Jordan: Residence status of non-Jordanian citizens who hold an "Identification Card for Sons of Jordanian Women," including renewal of residency status, access to education, health care, and other services; requirements and procedures to obtain the card (2016-September 2018) [JOR106168.E], 7. November 2018
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2015735.html

·      Jordanisches Arbeitsrecht Nr. 8 von 1996 inklusive Novellierungen [Arabisch], 19. Juni 2023
https://mol.gov.jo/ebv4.0/root_storage/ar/eb_list_page/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A_%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85_(8)__%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9_1996_%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87.pdf

·      JT – The Jordan Times: Activists commend measures to ease life for children of Jordanian mothers, 10. Oktober 2018
http://jordantimes.com/news/local/activists-commend-measures-ease-life-children-jordanian-mothers

·      JT – The Jordan Times: Guidelines banning foreign workers from certain professions ignite controversy, 9. April 2023
https://jordantimes.com/news/local/guidelines-banning-foreign-workers-certain-professions-ignite-controversy

·      Jordan News Agency: Der Ministerrat schafft die fünfjährige Wohnsitzbedingung für Mütter ab, damit ihre Kinder von den Unterstützungen für die Kinder jordanischer Frauen profitieren können [Arabisch], 10. September 2018
https://www.petra.gov.jo/Include/InnerPage.jsp?lang=ar&ID=75390&name=news

·      PRC – Palestinian Return Centre: Gazans Born to Jordanian Mothers: an added benefit or equally difficult livelihoods?, 25. Mai 2021
https://prc.org.uk/upload/library/files/Gazans-Born-to-Jordanian-Mothers.pdf

·      Social Security Law, Law No. (1) for the year 2014 and its amendments, Social Security Corporation (Hg.), Mai 2022
https://www.ssc.gov.jo/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Social-Security-Law-No.1-for-the-year-2014-and-its-amendments.pdf

·      The New Arab: 'Nationality is my right': Jordanian women's long struggle for equal citizenship rights, 16. März 2022
https://www.newarab.com/analysis/jordanian-womens-long-struggle-nationality-rights

·      USDOS – US Department of State: 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Jordan, 20. März 2023
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2089239.html

 

Anhang: Quellenbeschreibungen und Informationen aus ausgewählten Quellen

Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) ist eine Medienorganisation mit Sitz in Amman, die sich der Förderung des investigativen Journalismus widmet.

·      ARIJ – Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism: Children of Jordanian Mothers Have Fewer Rights at Higher Costs, 6. Juni 2022
https://arij.net/projects/Who-is-responsible-en/reports/rep38.html

„Many questions came to the mind of nineteen-year-old Ayham when the cashier at the Traffic Department in Amman asked him to pay 154 Dinars ($218) to issue him a Jordanian driver’s license. He only had 38 Jordanian Dinars ($54), since this was the fee his friend had paid recently when he applied for his driving licence. ‘How is my friend different from me?’ asks Ayham, ‘he and I were born in the same year in Amman, and we speak the same dialect. We sang the national anthem and saluted the flag together at the same school.’ Ayham sighed and asked the cashier for the required amount again. His response was, ‘Sorry, but you are not Jordanian.’ Ayham told him, ‘I am the son of a Jordanian woman,’ to which the person cashier at the window replied, ‘They are not (considered) Jordanian citizens.’
Jordanian women’s children who reside in the kingdom pay higher fees than citizens when requesting or certifying official documents, or when renewing their driving licenses.
Ayham’s case is similar to twenty-one-year-old Mohammad who had travelled abroad to compete his education. Once back, he approached the Ministry of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs to certify his degree, this was possible for a fee of five Jordanian Dinars ($7), whereas Jordanian citizens pay only two Dinars ($2.8). Mohammad says in a frustrated tone, ‘We are being treated as foreigners.’ […]

As a result of these campaigns, the Council of Ministers issued a decision to ease restrictions on children of Jordanian women by granting them some leeway and privileges in 2014.

Such discretionary treatments were limited and did not meet the aspirations of the children of Jordanian women, as Rami Al-Wakil, the coordinator of the ‘My Mother is Jordanian’ campaign believes. He says, ‘The privileges and leeway are limited to certain areas and are not comprehensive. For example, they are treated like Jordanians in primary and secondary education. When it comes to university education, only 150 seats in public universities are reserved for the children of Jordanian women on a competitive basis while the rest are registered as foreigners through the Parallel System.’

Al Wakil adds that ‘In healthcare, children of Jordanian women up to the age of eighteen are treated like Jordanians, but after that they are treated as foreigners.’

Human rights activist Ina’am Al-Asha says, ‘Children of Jordanian women were given the ‘Package of Citizenship Rights for Children of Jordanian Women’. This includes the right to residency, work, education, and medical care, but not the right to political participation.’

She asserts that this is not a bad package, but that it is a first step towards reducing the hardships and difficulties faced by children of Jordanian women married to non-Jordanians when it comes to their children residing and living in Jordan.“ (ARIJ, 6. Juni 2022)

Die CRCJO-Coalition ist eine Koalition aus zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen, die sich für Menschenrechte, Kinderrechte und soziale Themen einsetzen. Die Koalition wird vom jordanischen Forschungszentrum Information and Research Center – King Hussein Foundation geleitet.

·      CRCJO Coalition: Alternative Report on the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Jordan, Juni 2022
https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2082586/INT_CRC_NGO_JOR_49386_E.docx

„Additionally, of those who were able to obtain the ID cards, many stated no noticeable improvement in their situation as government agencies continue to subject them to the same regulations which apply to foreign nationals. The only areas of improvement were noted in health and education. However, a significant improvement was an amendment to the Labor Law which gave the children of Jordanian women married to non-Jordanians the right to work without a work permit, children of Jordanian women between 16 & 18 can benefit from this amendment if safeguards stipulated in the Labor Law are available.“ (CRCJO Coalition, Juni 2022, S. 6)

Fragomen ist eine international arbeitende Kanzlei für Migrationsrecht mit Hauptsitz in den USA.

·      Fragomen: Jordan: Mandatory Social Security Subscription and Process Changes, 23. Jänner 2023
https://www.fragomen.com/insights/jordan-mandatory-social-security-subscription-and-process-changes.html#:~:text=Foreign%20nationals%20are%20now%20required,the%20sponsoring%20entity%20in%20Jordan.

„Foreign nationals are now required to subscribe to Jordan’s Social Security Corporation (SSC) and must complete this process prior to a work permit being issued. These individuals can subscribe electronically through the SSC website under the account of the sponsoring entity in Jordan. In Jordan, social security provides subscribers with unemployment benefits and insurance covering workplace injuries and death.“ (Fragomen, 23. Jänner 2023)

Freedom House ist eine in den USA ansässige Nichtregierungsorganisation, die sich mit Recherchen und Advocacy-Arbeit zu Demokratie, politischen Freiheiten und Menschenrechten befasst.

·      Freedom House: Freedom in the World 2022 - Jordan, 2023
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2094369.html

„Children of Jordanian mothers and non-Jordanian fathers, who lack citizenship themselves, have difficulty accessing jobs, education, and health care without a special identity card that is difficult to obtain.“ (Freedom House, 2023, G1)

Human Rights Watch (HRW) ist eine internationale Nichtregierungsorganisation mit Sitz in New York City, die sich für den weltweiten Schutz der Menschenrechte einsetzt.

·      HRW – Human Rights Watch: “I Just Want Him to Live Like Other Jordanians” Treatment of Non-Citizen Children of Jordanian Mothers, April 2018
https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/jordan0418_web2.pdf

„Despite government promises to grant these individuals key economic and social rights, non-citizen children of Jordanian women continue to face legal restrictions that trap many of them at the margins of Jordanian society. […]

In 2014, the Jordanian Ministry of Interior stated that there were over 355,000 non-citizen children of Jordanian women. Popularly referred to in Jordan as ‘abna’ al-urduniyat,’ or the ‘children of Jordanian women,’ these non-citizens’ access to basic rights and services are severely limited. Authorities restrict their rights to work, own property, travel from and return to Jordan (where many were born and live), access public education and health care, and even their ability to acquire a driver’s license.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 1)

„In 2014, following negotiations with a parliamentary legislative bloc that was headed by then-Member of Parliament Mustafa Hamarneh and was demanding civil rights for abna’ al-urduniyat, the authorities appeared ready to recognize non-citizen children of Jordanian women as a specific class of individuals entitled to benefits not available to other non-Jordanians. The cabinet issued a decision purporting to ease restrictions on the access of non-citizen children of Jordanian women to six areas: employment opportunities, public education, government health care, property ownership, investment, and acquiring a driver’s license. The cabinet decision also established a special Jordanian ID card for noncitizen children of Jordanian women. The decision labeled the promised reforms – which, even when applied fully, still leave in place a clearly discriminatory system – tasheelat, or an easing of restrictions.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 3)

„For Bushra and many others like her, that happiness was short-lived. Upon applying for the new government-issued special identification cards for non-citizen children of Jordanian women, which would be required to access the six areas included in the decision, a sizeable number of non-citizen children of Jordanian women found themselves deemed ineligible or unable to obtain such ID cards. Some could not obtain the long list of necessary documents required to apply, including passports from fathers’ countries of origin, residency permits, work permits, certified birth certificates, and security clearances from Jordan’s powerful intelligence agency, the General Intelligence Directorate (GID). Others simply could not afford the costs required to collect these documents. Authorities also rejected some applicants on the basis that the cabinet decision requires Jordanian mothers, who, as their sponsors are required to apply on their behalf, to have legally resided in Jordan for no less than five years prior to applying – a requirement that the Jordanian National Commission for Women considered a form of discrimination against Jordanian women’s citizenship rights and freedom of movement.

Unfulfilled Promises

By February 2018, authorities had issued just over 72,000 identification cards, less than 20 per cent of the estimated number of non-citizen children of Jordanian women. Even for those who obtained the identification cards, many reported no discernible improvement in their circumstances. By and large, Jordanian government agencies continue to subject them to the same laws and regulations that govern provision of services for foreign nationals.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 4)

„Individuals interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that cumbersome annual renewal of residency permits remained a requirement for non-citizen children of Jordanian women, and those who required work permits continued to confront significant legal and regulatory barriers that prevented them from obtaining employment for which they were otherwise qualified restrictions but were constantly at risk of losing these hard-earned gains due to the legal uncertainties that threatened their jobs and limited professional mobility.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 4-5)

„It is only in public hospitals and at public schools that non-citizen children of Jordanian mothers reported noticeable improvements. Soon after authorities issued the cabinet decision, the Ministry of Health circulated its own regulations calling on public hospitals to treat uninsured non-citizen children of Jordanian mothers as they would uninsured Jordanians. Regarding education, the cabinet decision stated that schools must treat noncitizen children of Jordanian mothers on a par with Jordanian children.

In both cases however, those who cannot procure identification cards or meet the mother’s five-year residency requirement are not eligible to benefit from these provisions, and some non-citizen children reported paying higher fees at public hospitals despite presenting identification cards proving their status. In early 2018, the Ministry of Health asserted that only those individuals under the age of 18 are to be treated on a par with uninsured Jordanians – a requirement it had not previously included in its regulations. The promised ‘reforms’ initially did not improve access to higher education, meaning non-citizen children of Jordanian mothers had to pay costly international student fees to study at Jordan’s public universities. In 2017, however, the Ministry of Higher Education announced a limited reform, stating that 150 places at public universities will be reserved for noncitizen children of Jordanian women and subsidized by the government. Only individuals with top grades and identification cards are eligible to apply.

Despite inclusion in the cabinet decision’s provisions, authorities made no discernable changes to areas of property ownership, investment, or obtaining a driver’s license. Some government departments now require the new identification card in addition to the documents originally required for services, arguably excluding non-citizen children that could have accessed these services prior to the ‘reform.’“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 5)

„Given that the promised reforms came in the form of a cabinet decision that does not require parliamentary approval, the decision is subject to the whims of each successive government. At any point in time, it may be amended, changed altogether or simply nullified, reflecting its inadequacy as a substitute for full citizenship rights.

Deprived of permanent, automatic residency in their mother’s country of citizenship, noncitizen children of Jordanian mothers reported facing obstacles when attempting to open bank accounts, acquire phone lines, or register an account with an internet service provider. Young men face significant societal disadvantages in getting married.

‘I have two daughters married to Jordanians. My boys are the problem. Boys like my sons, they have no future, no work prospects, no marriage prospects, they can't live like other sons of this country,’ said Manal. ‘I wish I could marry my sons off to Jordanian women.’“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 6)

„The Gap between Government Promises and Implemented Reform

Below is a description of each of the promised services only accessible to individuals eligible for acquiring the government-issued cards, as printed in the Cabinet decision itself:

Work: Allow children of Jordanian women married to non-Jordanians to work in professions otherwise available only to Jordanians, provided there is no Jordanian alternative available. Exempt them from work permit fees.

Health: Allow children born to Jordanian women and residing in the Kingdom to receive the same treatment in government hospitals afforded to their insured mothers in accordance with the civil health insurance law and the instructions issued thereunder.

Education: Grant children of Jordanian women residing in the Kingdom equal treatment to Jordanian students in the primary and secondary public school systems.

Investment: Allow children of Jordanian women to invest in the Kingdom in accordance with existing provisions of laws, regulations, and instructions governing non-Jordanians.

Ownership: Allow children of Jordanian women to own property in the Kingdom in accordance with existing provisions of laws, regulations and instructions governing non-Jordanians.

Driving: Allow children of Jordanian women to acquire a private driver’s license on condition of obtaining a valid residency permit in accordance with the laws, regulations, instructions, and decisions in force for those subjected to them-“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 24-25)

„’Sawsan,’ 48, is married to a Palestinian from the West Bank and has four children. Both her husband and her three children have Jordanian temporary passports without national numbers. Non-citizen children are required to pay international student fees to enroll in higher education in the country’s public universities. Despite difficulties obtaining stable employment, especially jobs for which Jordanian college graduates can qualify, Sawsan and her husband nevertheless enrolled their 23-year-old son and 21-year-old daughter in private universities. Sawsan’s husband said their daughter wanted to become a lawyer but is currently studying media and communications. ‘My daughter was discouraged from studying law because she wouldn’t have been allowed to join the association.’ Their son, ‘Ibrahim’, is soon to graduate with a degree in computer science. ‘We worry so much about him and his future,’ said Sawsan. ‘I’m worried about all my children’s futures and their career prospects.’“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 39)

„Health Care […]

Health insurance is provided through the Ministry of Health and the Royal Medical Service to eligible individuals and by private companies to those who can afford it. Patients who do not have medical insurance receive basic services financed by the Royal Court and are required to pay for secondary and tertiary healthcare out of their own pocket. According to the 2015 national census, at least 30 per cent of Jordanians and 75 per cent of non-Jordanians in the kingdom are uninsured.

Although it entails a time-consuming process, insured and uninsured Jordanians can also petition for ‘medical exemptions’ from the Ministry of Health, the office of the Prime Minister, or the Royal Court, in which the government assumes responsibility for all costs of treatments and surgical procedures. Such exemptions are rarely granted to foreign nationals.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 41)

„When accessing public health care services, non-Jordanians pay between 35 and 60 per cent higher fees than uninsured Jordanians. […]

Three weeks after authorities issued the cabinet decision, the Ministry of Health circulated its own list of instructions in an official letter to hospital directors and heads of health centers adding that non-citizen children of uninsured Jordanian mothers, regardless of age, would now be permitted to pay the same fees as uninsured Jordanians provided the mother can prove she has resided in Jordan for a minimum of five years. While this is a positive move by the Ministry of Health, some families complained to media outlets and Human Rights Watch that hospitals were not following the new regulations and continued to charge non-citizen children of Jordanian women foreign national fees at public health centers.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 42)

„Amal, who was not able to obtain identification cards for her children because of the fiveyear residency requirement, takes her sons to private hospitals for treatment.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 44)

„Education

Public education in Jordan is not free of charge, but elementary and secondary schooling is subsidized for Jordanians. According to amendments introduced to the Education Act in 2006 and 2013, Jordanian schools should admit non-Jordanian Arab students if they hold required documents such as temporary passports, residency permits, and fathers’ valid work permits. Even if they hold these documents, however, they can only be enrolled if the schools’ capacity allows for it and at considerably higher cost. Non-Arab foreign students are only allowed to enroll in private schools, and Jordanian schools only allow admission for Palestinian students who come from the West Bank, and only if they obtain permission from the Follow-up and Inspection Department at the Ministry of Interior. Palestinians from Gaza are often registered in UNRWA schools for Palestinian refugees.

The 2014 cabinet decision on non-citizen children of Jordanian women residing in Jordan stipulates that these children are entitled to the same treatment as Jordanian students in the primary and secondary public school systems. Effectively, this exempts them from the additional costs required of non-Jordanian students and allows non-Arab children of Jordanian mothers to enroll in public schools. In order to enroll, however, the children must hold the identification cards.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 45-46)

„Ownership and Investment […]

Jordanian women, who are married to foreign nationals and residing in Jordan with their family, play a critical role in managing their family’s property, and investments. Even telephone and internet accounts are difficult to obtain for those who do not hold a valid form of identification. In her absence, every procedure becomes considerably more challenging.

‘We are all attached to, all dependent, on one person: Sawsan. Without her we can’t do anything at all,’ said Sawsan’s husband, a Palestinian with Gazan status.

The 2014 cabinet decision included ownership and investment in its provisions, but it made no regulatory changes to either sector. Non-citizen children and spouses of Jordanian women remain subject to the laws and regulations that govern ownership and investment for foreign nationals. Individuals cannot acquire property, register a car or business, or liquidate their investments without obtaining approval from the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Interior, the Land and Borders Director, or the General Intelligence Directorate. Given the restrictive nature of these laws, most families have no choice but to register everything they own in their mother’s name. […]

The only possible transfer of ownership of immovable property to a non-Jordanian is through inheritance. But even then, the process can be long and arduous.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 49)

„Non-citizen children of Jordanian mothers face similar obstacles when attempting to register a company in their name or buy land for investment purposes. Ten years ago, Nermeen and a business partner founded a company that sells medical supplies. She continues working there today in a managerial position and has her own office, health insurance, and a social security account. Her business partner, however, is technically her boss. She said, “I can’t even register my name as a partner in the company that I helped establish, and so I remain as I am, just an employee.”

While non-Jordanians are indeed allowed, upon receiving the necessary government approvals, to register companies in their names or invest according to regulations governing non-Jordanian investments, Nermeen claims that when she approached the Companies Control Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, a ministry employee refused to process her application because she didn’t have a Jordanian national number. Nermeen said she constantly feels trapped because of the restrictions imposed on her as a non-citizen generally and as a ‘Gazan’ specifically. Holders of temporary Jordanian passports are subjected to an additional layer of scrutiny as they may be required to seek further approval from the Council of Ministers.“ (HRW, April 2018, S. 50-51)

·      HRW – Human Rights Watch: Jordan: Small Step for Non-Citizen Children, 7. Oktober 2018
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/10/07/jordan-small-step-non-citizen-children

„Jordan’s cabinet on September 10, 2018 removed a barrier to services for non-citizen children of Jordanian women, Human Rights Watch said today. The measure does not ensure full equality in citizenship laws for Jordanian women and their children.

The change enables more children to benefit from a 2014 reform which purported to ease restrictions on their access to basic economic rights and government services by eliminating a requirement that their mothers must live in Jordan for five continuous years. But this step will not dramatically improve the lives of non-citizen children without further reforms that ensure full equality. […]

Children born to Jordanian mothers and non-Jordanian fathers struggle to get basic rights and services in Jordan. Due to a blatantly discriminatory law that denies equality for women in ensuring citizenship for their children, these children are treated as foreign nationals all their lives, with no permanent right to live or work in the country. […]

The decision fell far short of expectations, however, as many non-citizen children faced barriers to getting the cards, and individual ministries kept many of their restrictions in place.

To address that concern, the cabinet’s September 10 decision not only eliminated the five-year continuous residency requirement for the mothers, but also made clear that the identification card would be considered a valid ID by government agencies.“ (HRW, 7. Oktober 2018)

·      HRW – Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child Review of Jordan, 93^rd Session, April 2023
https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2023/04/Human%20Rights%20Watch%20Submission%20to%20the%20Committee%20on%20the%20Rights%20of%20the%20Child%2093%20-%20Review%20of%20Jordan.pdf

„Children born to Jordanian mothers and non-Jordanian fathers struggle to access basic rights and services in Jordan. Due to a law that denies Jordanian women the right to pass citizenship to their children on an equal basis with men, these children are treated as foreign nationals their whole lives, with no permanent right to live or work in the country, and with significant barriers to accessing their rights to education and healthcare, to name a few.“ (HRW, April 2023, S. 1)

„In a positive move, Jordan’s cabinet issued a decision on September 10, 2018, to not only eliminate the five year continuous residency requirement for the mothers, but also made clear that the identification card would be considered a valid ID by government agencies, thereby removing a significant barrier to services for non-citizen children of Jordanian women.“ (HRW, April 2023, S. 2-3)

Das Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) ist ein unabhängiges Verwaltungstribunal, das für Entscheidungen in Asyl- und Einwanderungsverfahren zuständig ist.

·      IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada: Jordan: Residence status of non-Jordanian citizens who hold an "Identification Card for Sons of Jordanian Women," including renewal of residency status, access to education, health care, and other services; requirements and procedures to obtain the card (2016-September 2018) [JOR106168.E], 7. November 2018
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2015735.html

„The Law Professor stated the following regarding access to services for children of Jordanian mothers and foreign fathers:

[T]hey can attend public (State) and private schools, without any discrimination between them and Jordanian students[,] [t]aking into consideration that public schools are free of charge and financially supported by the government [through] public funds. … [They] may attend public universities [like] Jordanian students; they pay similar fees … and have opportunities to get scholarships offered [by] different bodies[,] such as the Ministry of Higher Education.

[Regarding] healthcare, if the mother is insured by the government, i.e. [if she is] a civil servant, [the children] can … benefit from [her] insurance, provided [they pay] the required premiums, otherwise they will be treated as any Jordanian. …

They can also own houses, cars, [and] land. (Law Professor 13 Sept. 2018)

The lawyer similarly stated that children of Jordanian mothers and foreign fathers have the same access to public elementary and secondary schools as Jordanian citizens and that, if their mother is insured to be treated in public clinics and hospitals, they benefit from said insurance (Lawyer 19 Sept. 2018). According to the same source,

[they] [are] permitted to own residential property in Jordan after obtaining the official approvals from the competent authorities in Jordan, such as the [Department of Lands and Survey] and the Ministry of Finance. However, the children of a Palestinian father [are] not allowed to own property in Jordan. … [They] [s]hall have the right to [obtain] a driver's licence (cars only) provided that [they have] a legal residence in Jordan. (Lawyer 19 Sept. 2018) […]

The Senior Partner stated that children of Jordanian mothers and foreign fathers are subject to restrictions set by the Jordanian Ministry of Labour regarding the employment of non-Jordanians (Senior Partner 12 Sept. 2018). Similarly, the Associate indicated that children of Jordanian mothers and foreign fathers are not allowed to work in jobs restricted to Jordanians, ‘unless they obtain the pre-approval of the concerned authorities,’ which ‘is not easily granted’ (Associate 16 Sept. 2018). The lawyer stated that children of Jordanian mothers and foreign fathers are prioritized below Jordanian citizens to work in the professions reserved for Jordanian citizens (Lawyer 19 Sept. 2018).  […]

In contrast with the information presented above regarding work permits, the Law Professor stated that

[t]he government waived the condition of obtaining work permits to enable sons and daughters of a Jordanian woman to work in the private sector. Also[,] they have been granted the right to work in the professions which were previously closed and not allowed to non-Jordanians, such as medical professionals, but still they are not allowed to work for the government. (Law Professor 13 Sept. 2018) […]

The lawyer stated that ‘[t]heoretically, having an identity card for non-citizen children would facilitate their access to education, healthcare, and work. However, in practice, the children still do not enjoy these rights properly, and also cannot invest or own [property] in Jordan [like] Jordanian citizens’ (Lawyer 19 Sept. 2018). […]

The Associate reported the following:

[T]hrough our research, we were informed that when applying for [the] identification card [for children of Jordanian women], a significant number of children were unable to obtain these cards either for the reason of not [being] able to obtain a long list of documents required for the application, including passports of foreign fathers, residence permits, work permits, birth certificates and security approvals from the Jordanian Intelligence Service, or simply [because] they could not afford the costs required to collect these documents. (Associate 16 Sept. 2018)“ (IRB, 7. November 2018)

The Jordan Times ist eine englischsprachige Tageszeitung mit Sitz in Amman.

·      JT – The Jordan Times: Activists commend measures to ease life for children of Jordanian mothers, 10. Oktober 2018
http://jordantimes.com/news/local/activists-commend-measures-ease-life-children-jordanian-mothers

„Activists on Tuesday said a recent decision by the Cabinet to cancel a condition stipulating that Jordanian women married to non-Jordanian should live in the country for at least five years before their children could benefit from privileges is ‘a step in the right direction’.

On September 10, the Cabinet decided to scrap a condition stipulating a five-year continuous residency requirement for mothers, stressing that the identification cards issued to their children will be considered a valid ID by government agencies.

Rami Wakeel, one of the lead campaigners of ‘My mother is Jordanian and her nationality is a right for me’, said the recent government’s step is a ‘positive one but we still have a long way to go in terms of obtaining our full rights’, adding ‘several government agencies and financial institutions still do not acknowledge our IDs when we want to obtain official paperwork’.

He stressed the need for the government to ‘increase its surveillance at its departments to ensure that we do not suffer from rejections and hurdles when we want to apply for work, a driver licence, a loan or any other services that concerns our day-to-day life’.

‘Any step the government takes is good but eventually we need better government monitoring so that the Cabinet’s decisions in our favour are respected and implemented properly,’ he told The Jordan Times.

But Aroub Soboh from ‘My Nationality is the Right of My Family’ was more critical, saying that the ‘ID card is not recognised by the majority of government entities and it is just considered as an ID card no more no less’.

She added that the recent step is not considered as an achievement because it benefits a limited number of people since there are a large number of people who ‘do not have an ID to start with’.“ (JT, 10. Oktober 2018)

·      JT – The Jordan Times: Guidelines banning foreign workers from certain professions ignite controversy, 9. April 2023
https://jordantimes.com/news/local/guidelines-banning-foreign-workers-certain-professions-ignite-controversy

„Guidelines identifying professions and handicrafts that non-Jordanians are banned from practicing have sparked controversy on social media platforms. […]

The guidelines were issued in the Official Gazette last week under Paragraph (B) of Article 13 of the Investment Environement Regulations for 2023.

The policies state that non-Jordanians are not allowed to work in barbershops or hair salons, upholstery and furniture renovation workshops, carpentry, blacksmithing, aluminium fabrication and metal processing. Producing desserts, pastries or ice cream production for direct sale is also prohibited.

Non-Jordanians are also banned from employment in embroidery and traditional clothing workshops, goldsmithing and jewellery-making workshops, ceramic and pottery production, laundry and dry cleaning, producing and bottling fresh water for direct sale as well as roasting and packing nuts for direct sale.

The guidelines exclude establishments employing over 10 workers registered at the Social Security Corporation. […]

Zeina, also a twitter user, wrote: ‘What about the children of Jordanian mothers [and non-Jordanian fathers]?… Are they not allowed to work?‘. […]

Speaking with The Jordan Times, director of the Phenix Centre for Economics and Informatics Studies, Ahmad Awad pointed out that these guidelines have been regularly updated by the government over the past few years within the framework of labour market organisation. […]

The regulations should ‘at least’ differentiate between two different types of foreign workers in Jordan, Awad said.

‘Gazans who have a temporary Jordanian passport as well as the children of Jordanian mothers and non-Jordanian fathers shouldn’t be treated the same as other foreign workers who come to Jordan for work temporarily, then go back to their countries,’ he said.“ (JT, 9. April 2023)

Das Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) ist eine in Großbritannien ansässige Interessenvertretung, die sich mit den historischen, politischen und rechtlichen Aspekten der Situation palästinensischer Flüchtlinge auseinandersetzt.

·      PRC – Palestinian Return Centre: Gazans Born to Jordanian Mothers: an added benefit or equally difficult livelihoods?, 25. Mai 2021
https://prc.org.uk/upload/library/files/Gazans-Born-to-Jordanian-Mothers.pdf

„The general overview regarding the benefit card is that they have no added value to a foreigner’s life. In an interview with Mohammad, a 21 year-old Gazan refugee living in the Jerash camp, he said: ‘the card is useless, no one recognises it as official documentation.’ When Mohammad provided the card to police officers, they disregarded its validity and demanded that he provide them with another proof of identity. ‘I don’t understand what was the point then if I can’t use it. I will always be regarded as a foreigner, even though I’ve lived and grown up here, even though my mother is Jordanian.’ For Mohammad, it would have been better for his mother not to waste so much money and so much time in order to issue the card for her children, as ultimately it is a ‘useless document.’

Similarly, 25 year-old Omar who works as an architect at a firm in Amman exclaimed that the card is ‘useless.’ ‘This card hasn’t helped me in any way, to the extent that I don’t even know where the card is. No one recognises it anyway.’ When Omar, went to set up a new bank account, he provided his Benefit card assuming that it might quicken the procedure, to his dismay it was rejected. ‘They didn’t accept the card, and asked for my temporary two year passport. So even if the law states that the Card should suffice as a proof of documentation, this has not been confirmed by the Central Bank and so the Card can’t be used for your dealings.’

In terms of the provision of health and education benefits, research has shown that the services have been adequately provided, but not in an entirely uniform or inclusive manner. However, in terms of higher education, children of Jordanian mothers still face obstacles accessing and ulilising these services as most cannot afford the foreign student international fee they are obliged to pay. The recently published Human Rights Watch Report: ‘I Just Want Him to Live Like Other Jordanians’ also demonstrated that the 2017 announcement of the Ministry of Higher Education to reserve 150 seats for children of Jordanian mothers in public university is not quite accessible to the majority as it is restricted to those who have achieved exceptionally high grades, and who managed to issue the Benefit Card.“ (PRC, 25. Mai 2021, S. 6)

The New Arab ist die englische Version des in London ansässigen Medienunternehmens Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

·      The New Arab: 'Nationality is my right': Jordanian women's long struggle for equal citizenship rights, 16. März 2022
https://www.newarab.com/analysis/jordanian-womens-long-struggle-nationality-rights

„’It was very difficult for my mum to put me in school,’ Darina*, whose mother is Jordanian and father is Palestinian, recalls. Without a Jordanian ID, abna al urduniyat are charged prohibitive fees for most public services. Many don’t even have documentation from their father’s country or, as is the case with many Palestinian refugees, the father is considered stateless.

This is the case of Darina, who has renewed her residency annually for the past 21 years although she has nowhere else to go, since she has no foreign passport. To gain citizenship rights, she would have to marry a Jordanian, a risky bet since some husbands refuse to pass on their citizenship in order to prevent their wife from working or travelling abroad.

The legal discrimination and dependency of Jordanian mothers carries into adulthood, since she is the only one recognized as Jordanian by the authorities. When the mother passes away, simple procedures to renew residency papers, access health coverage or buy property can be jeopardised. […]

But instead of reforming the nationality law, which would have required parliamentary approval, the cabinet issued a decision granting children of Jordanian women a set of ‘privileges’ which remain well below the basic rights granted to citizen Jordanians.

Far from solving the issues faced by abna al urduniyat, the decision ended up creating two castes of non-citizen children: the ones who managed to access the meagre privileges, and those who didn’t.

‘My four-year old daughter doesn’t have an abna al urduniyat ID, because to obtain it I would need to get her an Egyptian passport, which costs one hundred dinars ($140). I simply cannot afford it,’ Zeinab told The New Arab. ‘She is supposed to start school in two years, and I don’t know how I will do without the ID.’

Like Zeinab, many women could not obtain the long list of documents required to apply for the special ID card designed by the government to recognize their children’s status. Three years after the system entered into force, authorities had issued around 72,000 IDs, reaching less than 20% of the eligible population. […]

Even those who managed to secure the precious card were soon disappointed. ‘Unfortunately, many fields and details were not mentioned in the decision, and many things were missing,’ Rami al-Wakeel, the current coordinator of the campaign, told The New Arab.

‘For example, those who need medical treatment and are older than 18 don’t get the same medical coverage as Jordanians. We are not even allowed to give blood to our own parents.’

The decision allowed abna al urduniyat to access public healthcare and education at the same rate as Jordanians, but only until the age of eighteen. It expanded the range of sectors in which they are allowed to work, but still required them to apply for a work permit. ‘With this ID, I can’t even apply for a Schengen visa. Embassies just see me as a Palestinian refugee: its kind of like I’m not a person,’ Darina said.“ (The New Arab, 16. März 2022)

Das US Department of State (USDOS) ist das US-Bundesministerium, das für die auswärtigen Angelegenheiten der Vereinigten Staaten zuständig ist.

·      USDOS – US Department of State: 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Jordan, 20. März 2023
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2089239.html

„By law children of Jordanian mothers and noncitizen fathers who apply for social services must reside in the country and prove the maternal relationship.“ (USDOS, 20. März 2023, Section 6)