Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi presented recently a draft law enabling foreigners married to Moroccan women to acquire Moroccan citizenship. Morocco’s current laws allow Moroccans of both sexes to pass on their nationality to their children, and for the female foreigners married to Moroccan men to obtain the Moroccan nationality, there is no similar option for foreigners married to Moroccan women.
By granting naturalization rights to foreign husbands, Morocco aims to recognize the valuable contributions they make to the country’s social network, and to strengthen their integration into Moroccan society.
This would not only provide them with a sense of belonging but would also provide them with access to the many legal, social, and economic benefits enjoyed by Moroccan nationals.
The bill’s route from proposal to enactment will require thorough consideration and debate and is not guaranteed.
The government must strike a careful balance between the desire for inclusivity and the integrity of its naturalization process. All security, identification, and cultural preservation considerations must be addressed to ensure that the law achieves the proper balance.
If this bill is adopted, Morocco will join Tunisia and Algeria in guaranteeing equal rights in terms of transmission of nationality to husbands.