Born Stateless

Check out this fabulous teaching resource courtesy of the BBC. It’s a mini documentary (3:06): Born Stateless.

The film introduces us to Maha Mamo. Her parents are both Syrian, but their marriage was not officially recognized because it was a mixed-marriage: Her mom is Muslim and her dad is Christian. Because of this lack of recognition of the underlying marriage, Maha and her siblings are not considered Syrian by virtue of their parentage.

Maha herself was born in Lebanon. But Lebanon does not follow jus soli. Because her parents were Syrian, Maha could not be Lebanese.

Maha and her siblings sought a new home. They found an unexpected one, Brazil.

This film is 3 minutes well spent. It’s a great addition to classroom discussion about jus soli, jus sanguinis, and naturalization (with a side of refugee status).

-KitJ