Nationality and Cases of Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa out of wedlock, from statelessness – the social stigma surrounding such situations can similarly obstruct the operation, in practice, of this important safeguard.205 Turning to the question of state practice with regards to the acquisition of nationality in later life, it is of interest to note some trends surrounding naturalisation procedures. Among the problems that have been reported with regard to access to naturalisation in practice – over and above the challenge of meeting the sometimes stringent eligibility criteria set by the law – are: naturalisation quota (i.e. a maximum number of acceptances per year); complicated and expensive procedures, with lengthy waiting times for a decision on an application; and the active use of the state’s discretion to deny naturalisation to otherwise qualified individuals.206 For instance, one report indicated that in Lebanon, 100% of the 4,000 applications received in 2003 were refused.207 With regard to the implementation of the naturalisation decree passed by Syria in 2011, there were similar complaints of lengthy procedures – even before the 205 - See, for instance, Women’s Refugee Commission, Our Motherland, Our Country. Gender Discrimination and Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa, June 2013. 206 - See UNHCR, The situation of stateless persons in the Middle East and North Africa, October 2010, from page 34. 207 - Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lebanon: Whether a child born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, of a Jordanian father and a stateless Palestinian mother born in Lebanon has the right to reside in Lebanon; whether Lebanese authorities would deny them permission to remain in Lebanon, LBN43284.E, 11 January 2005. 156