NATIONALITY LAW: CITIZENSHIP AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000360

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/RA, & DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL QA
SUBJECT: NATIONALITY LAW: CITIZENSHIP AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

REF: A. 04 DOHA 2010


B. 05 DOHA 723

C. 05 DOHA 728

D. 05 DOHA 845

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Classified By: Amb. Chase Untermeyer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary. The recent Amiri decision to restore
citizenship to approximately 6,000 people who were stripped
of their Qatari nationality last year came as a welcome
surprise to thousands of people whose fate has been uncertain
for over a year. Not coincidentally, the decision comes on
the heels of a newly enacted nationality law that speaks
directly to this issue. Elation with the Amiri decision is
mitigated by concerns with the new nationality law, which
imposes limits on the political rights of those whose
citizenship will be restored (REFTELS A & D). End Summary.

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The Decision & Origin of the Problem
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2. (C) In early February, the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin
Khalifa Al Thani, issued a decision to restore citizenship to
approximately 6,000 people stripped of Qatari nationality
last year. Post first reported on this issue fourteen months
ago when the Qatari government initiated this policy of
revoking or stripping nationality from members of the
Al-Ghufran branch of the Al-Murra tribe. The Al-Murra is the
largest tribe in Qatar with strong links to Saudi Arabia.
Victims and critics of the policy maintained they were being
unfairly targeted by the government because of their Saudi
origin and because of the government's intent on limiting the
political rights of some citizens. In response to an official
query from Post, the GOQ asserted that it had been compelled
to revoke the nationality of these individuals because they
were holding dual nationality, a status not permissible under
Qatari law (REFTELS B & C). It is alleged that approximately
6,000 people lost their Qatari nationality through
revocation. Those holding government employment lost their
jobs, and their entire families lost government benefits
(housing, education, employment, health, etc.) for which they
were eligible as citizens of Qatar.

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Political Implications of the New Nationality Law
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3. (C) At the close of 2005, a new nationality came into
effect. Among other things, Law No. 38 of 2005 addresses the
issue of those whose nationality was revoked. As with the
constitution, the new nationality law cannot be amended for
ten years. Many view the new nationality law as the prelude
to the Amiri decision inasmuch as it established the basis of
citizenship, the parameters for restoring citizenship, and
the political implications of being stripped of one's
nationality. The new nationality law defines four categories
of citizenship and the bases for withdrawing and restoring
citizenship. With regard to the Al-Murra tribe, the more
critical provision is found in Article 15, which affirms the
right of suffrage for those with restored citizenship, yet
denies their right to candidacy or nomination in any
legislative body for a period of ten years from the date of
restoration of their citizenship.

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Initial Reactions
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4. (C) In the weeks following the Amiri decision, Post
contacted various individuals who had approached the Embassy
last year when this matter first emerged. The individuals
were keen to express their gratitude to the Amir, stating
that the whole tribe welcomed the decision. While all
expressed their happiness with the news and their relief that
this matter could finally be put to rest, they were
nevertheless concerned with how the procedures for restoring
citizenship would be implemented and the impact the new
nationality law would have on their political rights.

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A Hard Lesson Learned
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5. (C) Contacts described the personal and professional
hardships endured when they lost their jobs, housing, and
various government allowances. Many were forced to live on
the generosity of other families and were deeply ashamed of
their inability to provide for their family. The suffering
and indignity of entreating for assistance, being ignored and
looked down upon were not only demeaning but also appear to

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have, at least in the short run, crushed or weakened the
determination and resistance that these individuals had
displayed last year. Individuals were so grateful to have
their citizenship restored that they were not willing to
press the issue of limits on their political rights. When
queried how they felt about not being able to run for
political office for at least ten years, one individual
stated, "We are just happy to get our jobs and allowances
back and not be viewed with disgust or as outsiders who did
something wrong." One legal analyst observed that the Al
Murras would not fight for their political rights. "The
members are not looking for trouble, and pushing for full
political rights would be trouble. They are not willing or
eager to repeat their experiences of the past year."

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Part of a Larger Government Strategy?
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6. (C) Since news first emerged of the revocation of people's
nationality last year, many have speculated that the policy
represented an attempt by the Qatari government to restrict
citizenship and limit the political rights of a broad section
of its populace prior to holding first-ever parliamentary
elections. urther, many maintained that by targeting the
AlMurras, the largest tribe in Qatar at estimated foty
thousand, the GOQ was pre-empting possible Sadi interference
in Qatari politics in the electios, predicted for 2007. To
support these assertios, some allude to the outcome of the
Municipal Cuncil elections of 2003. Seven members of the
Al-Murra tribe won seats on the Council out of a total of 29.
While this represents only about twenty-five percent of the
Council, some assert that it still raised apprehension on the
part of the government that the tribe could potentially form
a large voting bloc in the new parliament. An election law,
which will expound on the legal issues surrounding elections
and voter rights, is still pending.


7. (C) Members of the Al Murra tribe have also disclosed that
there is a new requirement compelling those whose nationality
was revoked and who cannot demonstrate proof that they were
born in Qatar, to claim Saudi Arabia as their place of birth
on their official documents. They view this new requirement
with suspicion, especially in light of the ten-year
stipulations barring changes to the new nationality law and
those with restored citizenship from running for office.
According to some, the government can use the place of birth
as a justification for further derogating the political
rights of this group in ten years time when it has the
ability to make amendments to the nationality law.


8. (C) To date, very few people have had their citizenship
restored. Also, it is still unknown whether or not the
majority of those whose nationality was revoked and who had
to obtain or declare another nationality will be able to
recover their Qatari citizenship. Both the chairperson and
secretary general of the National Human Rights Committee

SIPDIS
asserted, however, that approximately 200 people would not be
able to restore their nationality due to security reasons.
Post will continue to monitor this issue and report on
developments.
UNTERMEYER