Nationality and Cases of Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa for example, concerns have been flagged regarding the enjoyment of nationality by some children living in orphanages and the absence of a regime for formal adoption and the attendant acquisition of nationality may leave children stateless.179 The fourth area of discrimination in MENA nationality laws is that against persons with disabilities. Here too, it was seen that conditions relating to mental and physical health featured among naturalisation criteria, but could also lead to deprivation of nationality. This is a severely understudied question in nationality policy worldwide and there is little information on the implementation of the pertinent legal provisions in the MENA region. Nevertheless, given that the equal enjoyment of the right to a nationality for persons with disabilities is clearly established under international law, the fact that at least five MENA countries (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Syria and Tunisia) maintain legislation that could be interpreted to bar persons with disabilities from naturalisation is of serious concern. This is an area which is deserving of further attention and study, with a view to ensuring that such discrimination against persons with disabilities is removed. 179 - Interviews conducted by researcher Z. Albarazi in two Lebanese orphanages in 2011. 136