Zahra Albarazi 1. Religion: In Kuwait for example, a naturalised individual can be deprived of nationality if the persons renounces Islam or “behaves in such a manner as clearly indicates his intention to abandon Islam”.63 In Oman, before the recent amendment of the law, an individual could be stripped of nationality on the grounds of being an atheist or of belonging to an “anti-religious group”.64 2. Disability: Persons who acquire Mauritanian nationality by naturalisation can be deprived of their nationality if within a year from the date of naturalisation they are found to be “physically or mentally disabled’, retroactively threatening the nationality of naturalised individuals.65 3. Political beliefs: In Egypt, the nationality law stipulates that the authorities can deprive a person of nationality “if, at any time, he is assumed to be a Zionist”.66 Additionally, although the legalisations do not specifically talk about political beliefs, there are numerous examples of states using criteria such as disloyalty in order to strip individuals of their nationality if they have dissenting political beliefs. Alongside the regular legislative provisions, nationality can be taken away from individuals through other means and processes. In the Gulf countries, there have been examples of states which have published Emirs’ decrees that state additional new emergency reasons why individuals need to be deprived of their nationality.67 Additionally, in two countries – Qatar and Libya – the articles in the law that regulate deprivation of nationality are different in that the authorities are given much more discretion in determining when to withdraw a person’s nationality. In Qatar, the Minister has the discretion to withdraw nationality from anyone “if it is in the public interest”68 whereas in Libya, nationality can be deprived in any situation where the decision is “justified” by General Security.69. What is important to note is that no nationality laws in the MENA region include a safeguard to prevent a person from being rendered stateless if they are deprived of their nationality. Procedural questions Similarly to the situation of granting of nationality, there is absolute discretion in decisions on the withdrawal of nationality in most MENA states. What is particularly important in these circumstances is analysing this issue in light of the principle of due process with regard to nationality cases, and the extent to which there is a right of appeal if an individual is affected by a decision to withdraw nationality. In the majority of nationality laws in the MENA region, there are unfortunately very few opportunities that are open to people to challenge such decisions. There are only seven countries in the MENA region that guarantee a right to appeal in their nationality laws against decisions that concern their nationality – these are Algeria, Tunisia, 63 Kuwait nationality law 1959, Article 4(5). The former Oman Royal decree on Omani nationality, 1994, Article 13(2). 65 Loi portant code de la nationalité mauritanienne, 1961, Article 14. 66 Egyptian law no 26 of 1975, Article 16(7). 67 This was the case for example in Bahrain , Decree on 31 July 2013available on the State News Agency at: http://www.bna.bh/portal/news/573609 68 Qatar law no 38, 2005, Articles 11 and 12. 69 Law Number (24) for 2010/1378 , Article 14. 64 18 RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-Comp. 2017/3- © 2017 Author(s)