39 SAME YET DIFFERENT In line with previous findings, non-registration remains the primary cause of statelessness among adult respondents. However, in contrast with Tripoli and Akkar, both Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon stand out with a sizable concentration of under-study cases. This phenomenon sheds light on the cosmopolitan nature of urban areas. Statelessness profiles are more diverse in Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon compared to Tripoli and Akkar. Although the numbers align with national data, with the majority of respondents belonging to the Maktoum el Qayd category in both regions, specifically from the non-registered subcategory, there is a significant prevalence of under-study cases, particularly in Greater Beirut, accounting for 33% of all cases. This specific wide-ranging distribution in Beirut and Mount Lebanon can be attributed to factors such as ethnicity or family dynamics, as indicated by the available data. Fig 4. Stateless distribution by categories1 3% 4% 33% QeD 26% 7% 6% 8% 9% 22% 38% 24% 29% MeQ 34% Greater Beirut 63% 47% 47% Mount Lebanon Akkar Non-registered Inherited QeD Box 8. The under-study (Qayd el Dars) category Under-study cases of statelessness in Lebanon are rooted in historical waves of migration that extend back to before the creation of the country in 1920. The category refers to those whose nationality is originally “unspecified” because they lost it and could not obtain a new one. The concept itself is not legally defined under Lebanese law. The formal designation is derived from the historic “unspecified nationality” status that was later mentioned in the 1962 Law & Entry legislation (article 19). As a result, the General Directorate of the General Security (GDGS) enacted the under-study status which was later recognized as per Decision 68 of 1967, pointing to residents of Lebanese origins whose nationality was still “being studied”. They have to request residence permits granted by the GDGS. Onwards, special registries were set up at the GDGS to register those included in this category and record their births, marriages and deaths, mirroring the mode of personal status registries. This type of classification was acknowledged by Courts’ jurisprudence. Tripoli Other 1. Stateless individuals under 18 are not included in this sample which means that the actual number of non-registered stateless across the country is higher. The “Other” category refer to outlying cases such as absence of the father, family issues, etc. © 2023 Siren Associates. All Rights Reserved.