Children of Jordanian women continue to face hurdles at public institutions — SIGI

AMMAN – Although two years have passed since the government decided to grant children of Jordanian women married to foreigners identification cards in order for them to enjoy certain privileges, they still find it difficult to obtain them, according to an informed source.

In 2014, the Civil Status and Passports Department started issuing special identification cards for children of Jordanian mothers to enjoy civil rights and services to ease their lives.

“However, some public institutions do not recognise these cards, on the pretext that they did not receive instructions regarding them,” said Munir Idaibes, the executive manager of the Sisterhood Is Global Institute — Jordan (SIGI).

On the other hand, he praised the government’s efforts to grant children of Jordanian women civil rights, considering such move a “gradual solution on the right path to granting them full citizenship”.

“It is a positive step to ensure that children of Jordanian women enjoy education, healthcare and employment, but all government agencies should recognise the IDs granted to them,” he told The Jordan Times.

A total of 3,647 Jordanian women married Arab nationals and 412 wedded foreigners in 2015 according to a SIGI statement citing figures from the Chief Islamic Justice Department.

Foreigners married to Jordanian women last year included 1,933 Palestinians, 795 Syrians, 325 Egyptians, 250 Saudis, 132 Iraqis, 64 Yemenis, 51 Bahraini, 24 Emeriti, 22 Lebanese and 12 Sudanese.

Non-Arabs married to Jordanian women included 134 Americans, 30 Germans, 30 Canadians, 28 Swedes and 27 Britons, according to SIGI.