RIYADH – The Shoura Council on Tuesday agreed to study a proposal to grantnationality to children whose mothers are Saudis but fathers arenon-Saudis, Al Arabiya has reported.

With a majority of 63 votes, the council agreed to study two proposalsaimed at amending the Saudi nationality rules and regulations.

The proposal was tabled about two years ago but had never been taken up fordiscussion.

The proposal was tabled by two incumbent members, Latifa al-Shaalan and Ataal-Sibaiti, and three outgoing female members, Haya al-Manie, Thuraya Obaidand Wafa Taibah. The issue stirred hot discussions in the council with somemembers fully supporting it and others strongly opposing it.

Fahd al-Anzi, a member with a legal background, opposed grantingnationality to children whose mothers are Saudis but fathers are non-Saudison the ground that the children are usually attached to their fathers.

“The marriage of a Saudi woman to a non-Saudi man is her choice, but givingnationality to her children is not,” he said.

Faisal al-Fadil, another member with legal background, opposed hiscolleague.

He said granting nationality to those children concerns human rightsembodied in Shariah.

Iqbal Darandri, a female member, supported the proposal, saying some ofthese children were born in the kingdom and do not know any other homeland.

Noura al-Masaad, a female member who was the first to speak in the council,said most countries grant nationalities to children of women married toforeign men.

Abdullah al-Harbe said many people whose mothers are Saudis but fathers arenon-Saudis are positive members of the community, so preventing them fromgetting the nationality will deprive the kingdom of a qualified cadre.