The Plight of the Rightless: Mapping and Understanding Statelessness in Tripoli-V1.3 Appendix D - The 1994 Naturalisation Decree The Political Context The 1994 Naturalisation Decree was issued against the backdrop of the Syrian control over Lebanese politics. Following the 1989 Taif Agreement and the subsequent end of the Civil War in 1990, the Syrian regime maintained troops in Lebanon and exerted extensive political control over the post-war authorities. Initially scheduled in 1994, the first post-war parliamentary election was hastily held in 1992, based on an electoral law that was heavily decried by most of the Lebanese Christian political class. Electoral districting was designed to favour political parties that supported Syrian hegemony. Boycott of the 1992 election was massive. According to official numbers, only 29% of the electorate participated in the election. Boycott was particularly massive among Christians with a mere 13% turnout in their ranks. While the Syrian regime had its allies elected, and controlled all the seats in the first post-election government, there was a fear that a similarly low turnout would taint the 1996 election as well. The need to increase the electorate with potentially loyalist voters was one of the drivers for the 1994 Naturalisation Decree. Also noteworthy is that the last local elections (for Mukhtars and municipal councils) took place in 1967. These elections kept being postponed until 1998. Therefore, Mukhtars, i.e. locally elected officials competent on issues of personal status, who were in place before the 1994 Naturalisation Decree had been either elected in 1967 or politically appointed by the central government upon vacancy of the elected official. The 1994 Decree The issue of granting the Lebanese nationality to citizens who had not received it before the Civil War re-emerged after the end of the conflict. Shortly after the appointment of the first Rafik Hariri government in 1992, a committee headed by then-Interior Minister Bechara Merhej, including then-Director General of General Security and Director General of Personal Status, was set to establish the naturalisation process. In July 1993, the committee issued an application form to be filled by those who wish to receive the Lebanese nationality, including details that confirm their connection to Lebanon (ownership of property, filiation, residence, education, etc.). The application form was made available across the country through Mukhtars, who had to sign and confirm each request. Once filled, it was the role of security apparatuses, mainly General Security, to conduct thorough investigation into the validity of the request and the applicant’s background. On 20 June 1994, Decree No 5247 was signed by then-President of the Republic Elias Hraoui, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and Interior Minister Bechara Merhej, granting the Lebanese nationality to 202,527 individuals.74 These individuals came from 80 countries: 42% of them were 74 Merhej, Marsoum Al Tajnis Rakim 5247 Al Kossa Kamila (2013), p. 152-153. 66