CChapter 3: Comparative analysis of nationality laws punishment could include imprisonment (article 498 and further in Lebanese Penal Law). If there is a delay of more than a year after the child’s birth before registration is sought, this can only be achieved through a complicated, costly and demanding court procedure, which is often unsuccessful. Those who have not succeeded in having their birth registered are known as maktoum al kayd (unregistered).198 Although Lebanese law does not make acquisition of nationality by a child conditional upon the registration of his or her birth, the practice is different. Regardless of any formal entitlement under Lebanese nationality law, the maktoum al kayd are not recognised as Lebanese citizens by the state and discussions on the resolution of their legal status will often take shape as a debate on naturalisation. Here, the gap between nationality law and nationality practice is contributing to the expansion of statelessness within the country. In Lebanon then, birth registration and recognition of nationality are closely entwined and a child who lacks a birth certificate and is unable to remedy this, can be left in a position where he or she is not recognised as a national as a consequence. In general, however, the lack of birth registration should not be equated with a 198 - See, for instance, F. Rida, Unregistered persons in Lebanon: Thousands were never born according to official state documents… and they never died, Al Hayat, 12 August 2007. 151