Morocco decries move by Netherlands to eradicate dual nationality
2008-07-09
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."
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saidani miloudi Posted 2008-07-10
If dual nationality means the benefit from financial advantages , so it should be banned totally.How can the Moroccan government apply such a move upon the Moroccan jews then? Isn't it a double citizenship as well?
Ali Posted 2008-07-10
I think that the Netherlands belong to the Netherlanders and that they can pass the laws they want. They are free. The truth is that the Europeans sometimes do not manage to understand our mentality. We need to be fair. If this initiative or decision were made by any Arab country and were then criticised by a European country, we would say, “Why are they bothering us?” If Arabs live in a European country, then they are obliged to respect the laws of that country. Those who are not content because they say they are attached to their country of origin, should go back home. Some people say that they cannot chose between this or that citizenship, but I do not believe it.
salime fes Posted 2008-07-11
The topic of nationality has a high sensitivity for the Moroccan citizenship, culture and origins. However, let’s ask this question: what has the Moroccan nationality granted us? Only the national identity card. The nationality has made us die in Africa. Not all of Africa, just Morocco. We cannot preserve the nationality for people who don’t want it. But in the nationality law, it is impossible to remove the nationality of the Moroccan person unless he/she does acts which violate the order of the state. I honestly have nothing to do with it. I need an American or Israeli citizenship which will grant me value in this world and some Euros because the day of the dirham has gone.
امال Posted 2008-07-12
Forsaking the real identity of the person notwithstanding his origins is like forsaking the soul of person. I don’t think that banning double nationality for the residents in the Kingdom of Holland will serve the interests of immigrants. It just serves the interests of Holland itself. It doesn’t even serve their integration in that country. We all know that the features of serious racism are dominant in Holland between the true sons of the country and the resident immigrants. The Moroccan person who forsakes, for example, his original nationality in favour of the Dutch citizenship will be seen as a Dutchman of a degree below zero. This confirms that cancelling the original citizenship will make the immigrants neither belonging to their original countries nor integrated inside the Dutch society. So where is their dignity?
gol Posted 2008-07-21
The Netherlands’ decision to ban dual nationality is scandalous. If you participate in the country’s wealth and pay taxes, then it is normal to have the same rights and duties in the society. Otherwise, it is called apartheid. It is for this reason that the Moroccans are asking for dual nationality— so they can have the same rights. And, just because you want the same rights does not mean that you should automatically have to renounce your origins, religion, customs and so on.
Hicham Berjaoui Posted 2008-08-23
First of all, the law is still in its controversial stage and it has not yet been made public. The sophisticated regimes, naturally, are focusing on their international alternatives. But, they can do nothing in this regard apart from logically thinking about their future position within a global system that will be based on basic resources and, later, industrial or technological commodities. Because of the bad weather that is ravaging the global political playing field, which is being hermetically wrapped into the concept of “terrorism” and in Holland’s economic reports, this legal project will be abolished.
حيدر العراقي Posted 2008-08-24
What do backward Arabs do in the Netherlands and other human developed countries? Shame on them. By God, if they were really free, they should go back to their countries or go to Mecca to perform their prayers close to the tomb of the messenger peace be upon him not bring terrorism, killing and baseness to developed countries.
boutchiche amine Posted 2008-09-18
Hassan II’s prize—may God have mercy on him and, God willing, reserve a place in Paradise for him—was that he said that a Moroccan is always a Moroccan to the King of Morocco.
trexcalli Posted 2008-10-12
The debate over dual citizenship must not be a trivial one, given how the Moroccan authorities seem to be interested in it. In my opinion, if the Dutch put an end to dual citizenship for Moroccans, they will be followed by the other European governments, which have decided to stop African and, more particularly, Muslim immigration. Those who are already present on their territory will be integrated and there is a policy behind all of this.
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