Palestinian Citizenship Order 1925 facts for kids
| Statutory Instrument | |
 |
|
| Territorial extent | Mandatory Palestine |
|---|---|
| Dates | |
| Made | 24 July 1925 |
| Commencement | 1 August 1925 |
| Other legislation | |
| Made under | Foreign Jurisdiction Act 1890 |
| Revoked by | Nationality Law, 5712-1952 |
|
Status: Repealed
|
|
The Palestinian Citizenship Order 1925 was a special law for Mandatory Palestine. This law created a new citizenship called "Palestinian citizenship" for people living in that area.
It was officially announced on July 24, 1925, and started working on August 1, 1925. This law stayed in place until May 14, 1948. That's when the British, who were in charge, left Palestine. After they left, Palestinian citizenship ended. Later, Israel made its own Citizenship Law in 1952. People in the West Bank then followed Jordan's nationality laws.
Contents
What Was This Law About?
This law was very important because it decided who was a citizen of Palestine. Before this, many people in the area were considered "Ottoman subjects" because the Ottoman Empire used to rule there.
The new law helped define who belonged to the territory of Palestine. It also made sure that people who were already living there became citizens.
Why Was This Law Needed?
The law was created because of two main reasons:
- The Mandate for Palestine: This was a document that gave Britain the job of governing Palestine. Article 7 of this Mandate said that Palestine needed its own citizenship law. It also said the law should make it easier for Jewish people who moved to Palestine to become citizens.
- The Treaty of Lausanne: This was an agreement signed in 1924 after World War I. It stated that people who were "habitually residents" (meaning they usually lived there) in what became Palestine would automatically become citizens of that new territory.
Who Became a Citizen?
The Order said that "Turkish subjects" (people from the Ottoman Empire) who usually lived in Palestine on August 1, 1925, would become Palestinian citizens. An area called Transjordan was specifically not included.
The law also allowed some people living outside Palestine to become citizens. Children or wives of Palestinian men could also get citizenship. The law did not judge people based on their race or religion. However, people from a minority race could choose to leave Palestinian citizenship if another country, where their race was the majority, accepted them.
Before this law, the Ottoman Nationality Law of 1869 had made everyone in the Ottoman Empire a common citizen, no matter their religion or background.
How Could People Become Citizens?
People could become Palestinian citizens in a few ways:
- Automatic Change: Many people automatically changed from being Ottoman subjects to Palestinian citizens. This happened if they lived in Palestine when the law started.
- By Birth: If a father was already a Palestinian citizen, his children would also be citizens. Also, if someone was born in Palestine and didn't get citizenship from any other country, they could become a Palestinian citizen.
- By Living There: People could also become citizens through a process called naturalization. This meant they had to live in Palestine for a certain amount of time and then apply to become a citizen.
Palestinian citizens had the right to live in Palestine. However, they were not considered British subjects. Instead, they were called British protected persons. This meant Britain offered them some protection, but they weren't full British citizens.
Important Parts of the Law
The King of England, using his special powers, ordered this law to be made. Here are some key points from the original document:
- Article 1 (1): It clearly stated that Turkish subjects who usually lived in Palestine on August 1, 1924, would become Palestinian citizens.
- Article 1 (3): This part allowed people over 18 who became Palestinian citizens but were from a different race than most people in Palestine to choose another country's citizenship. This was only if that other country accepted them and if their race was the majority there.
- Article 21: This section defined important terms.
- "Palestine" meant the areas covered by the Mandate for Palestine, but it specifically excluded parts east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea.
- "Palestinian citizen" meant someone who was a citizen by birth, naturalization, or other ways mentioned in the Order.
The law also included an Oath of Allegiance. This was a promise people had to make to be loyal to the Government of Palestine. It said: "I, A.B., Swear by Almighty God that I will be Faithful and Loyal to the Government of Palestine."
See also
- Constitution of Mandatory Palestine
- History of Palestinian nationality
- Ottoman Nationality Law of 1869
