Nationality and Cases of Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa 3.1.2. Nationality by birthplace (jus soli) The jus soli doctrine, the other major mechanism for establishing nationality at birth whereby the child’s place of birth is decisive, is less popular in the MENA region. That a person’s connection will be strongest with the state in which he or she is born and that this should be acknowledged through the conferral of nationality is a sentiment far more alive in other parts of the world, especially the Americas. None of the countries in the MENA has a blanket jus soli provision which would grant nationality to everyone born on the state’s territory. Nevertheless, that such a territorial connection could open up a pathway to nationality is recognised in numerous clauses of MENA laws, in particular in the form of so-called “double” (and even “triple”) jus soli rules, as shown in Table 2. In seven countries in the region, two or three successive generations of birth on state soil may lead to an entitlement to nationality. Thus, a child born in Mauritania to a parent who was also born in Mauritania can acquire nationality upon completion of a registration procedure.107 In Yemen108 and Tunisia,109 acquisition of nationality by birth on state territory is automatic, but only if the child’s father 107 - Article 9(1), 1961-112 Law on Mauritanian Nationality. 108 - Article 4(c), Yemen Nationality Law No. 7, 1990. 109 - Article 7, Tunisian Nationality Code (Decree No. 63-6), 1963. 88