Syrian Citizenship Disappeared # Status of the husband Status of the wife Confirmation of Status of marriage and legiti- births/children mation 1 maktum (a male who has no records within the citizens’ nor the ajanib’s) maktumah (the female who has no records within the citizens’ nor the ajanib’s) marriage and legitimation not regisunregistered/ tered. maktumeen Officially the husband is single and the wife too. 2 maktum (a male who has no records within the citizens’’ nor the ajanib’s) ajnabiyah (a female registered within the records of the ajanib) unregistered/ maktumeen 3 maktum (a male who has no records within the citizens’ nor the ajanib’s) Marriage and legitimation not registered. Officially the husband is single and the wife too A Syrian national The Sharia Courts provide a decision acknowledging the marriage without confirming it in the records and without legitimation (a nominal decision legally worthless) 4 Ajnabi (the male who is recorded within the ajanib’s) maktumah (the female who has no records within the citizens’ nor within the ajanib’s. unregistered (husband is single and wife too) unregistered/ maktumeen 5 ajnabi (the male who has records within the ajanib’s) Ajnabiyah (the female who has records within the ajanib’s) It is possible to registered as confirm the marajanib riage and pass the status of the father to children (legitimation) directly without the approval of the Ministry of Interior/ the Political Security 38 unregistered/ maktumeen General notes Officially the marriage not confirmed but the couples can obtain only a decision by the court affirming the marriage and mentioning the children. The Personal Status Department refused to confirm the court decision and so the status of the wife remained the same (single) whereas the husband has no records in the Personal Status Department in the first place.