Dozens of children of Palestinian parents at risk of losing Belgian nationality
Local authorities in Belgium have stripped dozens of children born to Palestinian parents of their Belgian nationality since 2023, De Standaard reports. This is plunging at least 44 families into what rights groups describe as “complete legal uncertainty”.
Under Belgian law, a child born in the country cannot be left stateless. When parents are themselves stateless, the local registrar has the autonomy to grant Belgian nationality at birth. Until 2023, this was more commonly applied to children of Palestinian parents, according to migration centre Myria.
The Immigration Office (DVZ) says the rule has been abused. Some families reportedly sought Belgian nationality for their child to secure family reunification rights. The DVZ began writing to local authorities when such reunification requests were filed. This has prompted many municipalities to revisit earlier nationality decisions.
The Federal Ombudsman has repeatedly warned that the DVZ has no authority to influence these decisions.
Rights organisations, including Myria and the Flemish and francophone children’s commissioners, say the practice has caused widespread insecurity and triggered numerous court cases. In three rulings so far, two nationality withdrawals have been annulled.
A child holds with their parent during a pro-Palestinian protest in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT
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