The new law facilitates naturalization without giving up the original citizenship (Associated Press)

Berlin -

Millions of immigrants residing in Germany are looking forward to the new law on naturalization, which was voted on by the German Parliament and is expected to enter into force before the end of the first half of this year. This law is considered historic in Germany, as it will greatly facilitate obtaining German citizenship. .

About 5.6 million Muslims currently live in Germany, representing approximately 6.7% of the country's population. At the forefront of these are: Turkish Muslims and people of Turkish origins. Of the two million and 800 thousand Turks in Germany, one million and 500 thousand of them did not obtain a German passport, according to official sources. As for the Syrians, whose number is estimated at about one million and 200 thousand people, a small percentage of them obtain the passport.

Hafiza Hamoud, from the Union of German-Syrian Organizations, says, “Although the new Turkish generations who were born and raised in Germany have a weak or weak relationship with their mother country, a large number of them refuse to give up their Turkish passport, and the same applies to many Egyptians and Jordanians.”

She added to Al Jazeera Net that the issue is different legally for Syrians, since the Syrian Constitution completely prohibits giving up Syrian citizenship, and it is not withdrawn from them except in rare cases.

However, the requirement to give up original citizenship to obtain German citizenship no longer exists in the new German law. Previously, this right was exclusive to citizens of European Union countries and some countries outside it, but now it will include everyone.

Mu'nis Bukhari, founder of the "Syrian House" in Germany, told Al Jazeera Net, "I expect that the new citizenship law in Germany will have a major positive impact on the lives of Arab and Muslim immigrants in the country. It will give them a greater sense of belonging to German society, and will make it easier for them to participate in public life." Pointing out that "retaining original nationalities will reassure immigrants' concerns about their cultural identity."

Hafida Hammoud: Many immigrants in Germany refuse to give up their original nationality (Al Jazeera)

New facilities

The new law reduces the period of residence required to obtain citizenship from 8 years to 5, or even to 3 years in the event of achieving special achievements, including professional or academic achievements. Children born in Germany to foreign parents will also receive citizenship if at least one of the parents has resided in Germany for more than 5 years.

Old immigrants (the generation of guest workers) in the country will be exempted from the language exam requirement, which was previously a barrier to naturalization for a number of them, as well as from the requirement to support themselves.

Munis Bukhari asserts that “naturalization means new rights, such as: voting in German elections and holding public positions, which will help immigrants integrate better,” stressing that the law will support coexistence within society, as immigrants will feel that they are part of it, which will reduce the possibility of discrimination. Or marginalization.

In addition to these advantages, Syrian refugees, for example, may have the ability to visit their country using a German passport, which will make it easier for them to visit their families and acquaintances, according to Mu’nis.

The draft law witnessed a lengthy discussion, following the desire of a number of parties and figures to make recognition of Israel a condition for obtaining citizenship, after the large demonstrations in the country in support of Palestine recently.

However, in its latest version, the law merely stipulated that “anti-Semitism” conflicts with the right to naturalization, and that Germany must “adhere to Germany’s historical responsibility” for the consequences of Nazism, including “protecting Jewish life.”

Hafiza Hamoud believes that “immigrants are in dire need to exercise the right to vote, especially with the rise of right-wing extremist voices after the war on Gaza.” Therefore, the law appears important, in addition to its positive effect in convincing qualified people from Arab countries to go to Germany, thanks to the possibility of dual citizenship.

Munis Bukhari: Naturalization helps immigrants better integrate into German society (Al Jazeera)

Muslims in Germany

Despite the size of Muslims in the country, at the federal level, they do not have any recognized institution within the framework of “public right institutions,” which is a privilege enjoyed by the main churches and a number of Christian sects, as well as Jewish communities, and provides a number of rights to members of the religion, such as organizing rituals. Religious, or ongoing public funding. Only the state of Hesse granted the right to the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect.

In the absence of legal recognition, the debate turns to the political side. Since former German President Christian Wulff said in 2010, “Islam, along with Christianity and Judaism, is part of Germany,” the debate continues, between those who defend this opinion and those who believe that Germany Basically a Christian country.

Munis Bukhari explains, “The new citizenship law will likely lead to Islam becoming a real part of Germany, because the law will make Muslims a more integrated and participating part of German society,” but he adds that there are other factors that should facilitate its introduction to Muslims. Including: “job opportunities, education and social support.”

Muslims in Germany suffer from widespread racism towards them, as confirmed by an official report published by the German Interior Ministry last year. They also suffer from great dispersion in the institutions that speak on their behalf, and their voice is absent within the German parties and parliament, in addition to the authorities’ preference for dialogue with liberal groups that do not enjoy any representation within it. Muslim community.

According to a report published by the German Interior Ministry last year, Muslims in Germany are exposed to racism (Associated Press)

Complex bureaucracy

However, German bureaucracy hinders the success of this project in the medium term. Many applicants for citizenship, under the old law, complain that the procedures are long and time-consuming. Berlin admits that even if the documents are complete and correct, their processing can take 12 months, according to the Federal Office of Administration.

Hafiza Hammoud says, “Germany is currently experiencing a major crisis due to the size of the number of applicants, in addition to systematic racism in managing the naturalization process in a large number of naturalization departments, or due to the lack of the number of existing employees, which makes the new law far from being implemented in the coming years,” noting that You must wait for a period of more than a year just to get an appointment to submit your naturalization application.

Source: Al Jazeera