A Critique of Amendment to the Law Concerning Citizenship of CHildren of Iranian Women Married to Foreign Nationals Act of 2019

The amendment to the law concerning citizenship of children of Iranian women married to foreign nationals enacted by Majlis Shura-e-Islami (Islamic Parliament of Iran) in September 24, 2019. With the enactment of this law, the question arises whether latter law can completely solve the problem of citizenship of children born to Iranian women married to foreign nationals? It seems despite some uncertainties and ambiguities, this law altogether contains new good points, which can solve the problems and difficulties with regard to citizenship of offspring of Iranian women married with foreign men. According to the law, it is possible that the legitimate children of Iranian mothers married to foreign men, includes those who born inside or outside the national territory of Iran, obtain the Iranian citizenship. However, obtaining this citizenship is subject to the occurrence of legitimate marriage. Besides, according to this law, obtaining Iranian citizenship before reaching eighteen years old of these children is conditional upon request of Iranian mother. Although this law did not clarify those cases that Iranian mother does not ask for citizenship for her child due to any reason.