EGYPT: Men married to Israelis to lose Egyptian citizenship

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The Egyptian Supreme Court has affirmed an earlier verdict to revoke the citizenship of Egyptian men married to Israeli women.

In his Saturday ruling, Supreme Court judge Mohamed Husseini said the government should begin enforcing the verdict, which includes stripping the citizenship of children born from mixed marriages. Over the last 20 years, thousands of Egyptians have flooded Israel searching for work and better living conditions. Reports indicate that about 30,000 Egyptian men are married to Israeli women.

The case was raised by Nabil Wahsh, a lawyer famous for promoting lawsuits against the government and individuals alike in the name of religion and Arabic and national pride.

‘I brought this case to court as to prevent the creation of a generation disloyal to Egypt,’ Wahsh said. ‘Children of such marriages should not be allowed to perform their military service [in the Egyptian army].’

Last year, a lower court ordered the Interior Ministry to start looking at cases of Egyptian men with Israeli wives. However, both Interior and Foreign ministries appealed the ruling, claiming that only the parliament is eligible to decide on the issue. The ruling stipulated that each case should be considered separately.

-- Amro Hassan in Cairo