Nationality and Cases of Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa 1961 Statelessness Convention – i.e. invoke generally permissible grounds for deprivation – tend to also extend the powers of deprivation of the state beyond what the convention permits. Although the 1961 Statelessness Convention recognises that a person who acquires nationality through naturalisation but subsequently resides for an extended period abroad may be deprived of his or her nationality, even if statelessness results, the minimum duration of the absence from the state which can be set is seven years. In Egypt, by comparison, nationality acquired by naturalisation may be withdrawn after just two years of absence, if no acceptable reason is given for this absence. Moreover, it should be noted that the 1961 Statelessness Convention and broader human rights law both call for due process and the right to an effective remedy where a decision is taken to deprive a person of their nationality. The right to appeal is especially important if statelessness results from such a decision – yet only six MENA countries provide for this in their laws.166 Overall, in view of the widespread international recognition and regional reaffirmation of the right to a nationality, it is surprising and highly regrettable just how lacking MENA’s laws are in safeguards that would protect a person from 166 - See further section 4.2 of this report. 124