Morocco decries move by Netherlands to eradicate dual nationality

09/07/2008

The Moroccan government has rejected talk by the Netherlands of ruling out dual nationality for citizens of a number of countries, including Morocco.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 09/07/08

[File] The Dutch government has reiterated its desire to rule out dual nationalities, resulting in a firm rejection by King Mohammed VI of any move that would strip Moroccans of their citizenship.

The government of the Netherlands has stated that it will continue to consider the possibility of ruling out dual nationality for citizens of all countries, including Morocco. The implementation of a law adopted in 2005 to ban dual nationality has caused alarm in Morocco, but may not actually affect dual Moroccan-Dutch citizens.

On instructions from King Mohammed VI, Dutch Ambassador to Rabat Sjoerd Leenstra was called in to meet with the Moroccan ministers of justice and foreign affairs on Monday (July 7th) to express the king's "astonishment" and "categorical rejection of any policy, whatever its origins, motivations or purposes, which would demand that Moroccan nationals living in the Netherlands renounce their original nationality."

The two government officials told the Dutch diplomat that "the loss of original Moroccan nationality can only be allowed in exceptional cases and by decree".

Passed in the wake of strong feelings after a Moroccan Islamist assassinated Dutch director Theo Van Gogh, the 2005 law requires those applying for Dutch nationality to renounce their original nationality.

However, the law includes a number of exceptions and does not apply to the nationals of countries such as Morocco where it is impossible to renounce one's original nationality.

Dutch Immigration and Integration Minister Rita Verdonk attempted to find a solution to this exception during a 2005 visit to Morocco, but no agreement was reached.

The issue has now resurfaced, however, and the Dutch would like third generation Moroccan immigrants to have only one nationality from now on, be it Dutch or Moroccan, to "facilitate administrative and judicial procedures."

The Netherlands' reasons for the move have to do with integration and economics, Khalid Berjaoui, head of the private law department at the Souissi-Rabat law school told Le Soir Echos.

"It is difficult to conceive of accepting a candidate to a ministerial or parliamentary post, knowing that that he has a nationality other than that of the country he is supposed to be representing and defending," Berjaoui said.

Dual nationality also poses a problem when an individual uses his two citizenships selectively to gain financial advantages, he added. Dual Moroccan-Dutch citizens often choose to pay Morocco's lower taxes on income, while enjoying Dutch social benefits. And when it comes to investing in Morocco, those with dual nationality find it most advantageous to do so as foreign citizens, he concluded.

For the 227,692 people in the Netherlands with dual Moroccan and Dutch nationality, the issue is an emotional one and they want to know what is going to happen.

"I was born here, and I feel Dutch, but also Moroccan," Fatima Zohra Charaf told Magharebia. "I could never choose between the two countries, even if it were possible."

Abdou Menebhi, President of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre of Migration and Development in Amsterdam told reporters "nothing can affect Dutch people of Moroccan origin if the Moroccan authorities refuse to denounce Moroccan nationality."