Mariam is considering emigrating from Lebanon not because of the economic crisis in the country but rather to spare her foreign husband and potential future children from Lebanon’s discriminatory citizenship laws. Lebanese men can pass on Lebanese citizenship to their spouses and children. However, this right is not extended to Lebanese women. In this episode, Mariam discusses the origins and implications of these unfair laws and the challenges they create for her family and future plans.
Lebanese Arabic Transcript and English Contextual Translation
حسين: خالتو، كأني سمعت من ماما إنك عم تفكري تهاجري من لبنان. معقول تبعدي عننا هيك؟
Hussein: Aunt, I think I heard from mom that you are considering emigration from Lebanon. Is it possible that you part us like this?
مريم: حبيبي، ما في شي جدي بعد، بس عم ادرس الخيارات.
Mariam: My dear. Nothing is serious yet. I am just studying the choices.
حسين: طيب هاتي خبريني. يعني اللي بعرفو إنو إنت ومحمد زوجك أموركن منيحة وعم تشتغلو تنيناتكن، ما حابين أشغالكن؟ أو لإنكن خايفين الأوضاع الاقتصادية تصير بعد أصعب أو تخسرو الشغل؟
Hussein: Talk to me about it. I mean what I know is that you and your husband Mohammad are doing well, and you are both working. You do not like your jobs? Or is it because you are afraid that the economic situation becomes harder or that you lose your jobs?
مريم: لا أبداً. بالعكس، مبسوطين بشغلنا برغم الضغط اللي بصير مرات. أكيد الأوضاع الاقتصادية صعبة، وعالأرجح رح تصير أصعب. بس سبب الهجرة مش اقتصادي. لو اقتصادي بضل في أمل يسعى الواحد بشغل ويزبط وضعو، لأن البعد عن الأهل والأحباب شي كتير صعب، والهجرة قاسية عالإنسان. السبب بصراحة معنوياً أصعب بكتير علي. يعني أنا صرلي سنين بشتغل وأسست منيح هون، بس المشكلة إنو يوم اللي رح يصير عندي فيه ولاد رح يصير كل شي أصعب. لأن متل ما بتعرف محمد مش لبناني، فأنا بالقانون اللبناني، ما بحقلي أعطي جنسيتي لا لولادي، ولا لزوجي.
Mariam: Not at all. On the contrary, we are happy in our work despite the stress that takes place sometimes. The economic situation is certainly difficult, and most probably it will become harder, but the reason for emigration is not economic. If it was economic, there would still be hope that one seeks work and improves his situation because being away from family and loved ones is something very hard, and emigration is harsh on people. To be honest, the reason is much harder for me emotionally. I mean, I have been working for years, and I established well here. But the problem is that the day on which I will have kids, everything will become harder because as you know, Mohammad is not Lebanese. Thus, in Lebanese law, I do not have the right to pass my citizenship neither to my children, nor to my husband.