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The Dialectic of State Sovereignty and Right to Nationality in the Light of the International Human Rights Law

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Author

Assistant Prof. of International Law, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

10.22059/jplsq.2025.385049.3634

Abstract

Sovereignty, a foundational element of statehood, encompasses both rights and obligations, which the authority to grant nationality has historically been one of its core prerogatives. The international dimensions of nationality, however, have long been recognized by legal doctrine and judicial precedent; as have been strengthened through the developments in the international community, the humanization of international law, and the transformation of sovereignty. Since the mid-20th century, the right to nationality has been enshrined in conventional and customary international law, with its recognition as an essential precondition for the enjoyment of other human rights. Under the framework of contemporary international law, judicial practice, and doctrine, the right to nationality imposes a range of obligations upon states, both affirmative and negative, within the broader context of duties to respect, protect, and fulfill. These obligations encompass the prohibition of discrimination (on the basis of race, gender, language, religion, national origin, economic status, age, disability, etc.); the prohibition of arbitrary action (including disregarding objective and reasonable criteria); the duty to prevent and reduce statelessness; and the obligation to afford special protection to vulnerable groups (e.g. refugees, children, and those with dual nationality); and addressing concerning situations (e.g. expulsion, voluntary alteration or renunciation).

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. English

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    1. B) Articles
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    1. Thesese
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    1. D) Documents
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    1. Websites
    2. Human Rights Watch (2019). India: Citizenship Bill Discriminates Against Muslims; At: https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/12/11/india-citizenship-bill-discriminates-against-muslims >2024/06/28.
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    References In Persian:

    1. A) Books
    2. Brownlie, I. (2017). Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law. A Persian translation by: M. Habibi Majandeh, 8th, Qom: Mofid University Publications (In Persian).
    3. Nassiri, M. (2010). Private International Law. 20th, Tehran: Agah Publication (In Persian).
    4. Sattar A., & Haji Azizi, B. (2020). Nationality in International Law and Iran’s Law. 2nd, Hamedan: Bu-Ali Sina University Publications (In Persian).
    5. Shokri, S. (2022). Dar Kuye Niknami: An Interview with Justice Heshmat Rostami Daroonkela, Tehran: Majd Publications (In Persian).

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Abedi, M. T. (2012). The right to Citizenship and the Principle of Fair Trial (evolution in Iran's Jurisprudence). Research Paper on Private Law, 1(1), 73-86 (In Persian).
    3. Alhooii Nazari, H. (2015). Reserved Domain in the Awards of International Court of Justice. Public Law Research, 16(43), 135-162 (In Persian).
    4. Alhooii Nazari, H., & Kourakinejad, M. (2016). Internal and international legal necessities to reform some provisions of the civil code regarding the nationality of women. Public Law Studies Quarterly, 46(2), 297-317 (In Persian).
    5. Ansari, H., Nik khah, R., & Salehi, S. M.(2020). An Investigation of Islamic Thinkers' Views on the Principle of Non-Discrimination. Contemporary Comparative Legal Studies, 11(20), 1-26 (In Persian).
    6. Azizi, S. (2009). Who is the “Iranian by Origin”?. Journal of Comparative Law, 10(16), 147-167 (In Persian).
    7. Azizi, S. (2021). The Comparative Study of Jus Soli in Iranian, United Kingdom and European Union Laws. Journal of Legal Studies, 13(3), 161-184 (In Persian).
    8. Azizi, S., & Haji Azizi, B. (2012). Examining the position of the Iranian mother in the transfer of citizenship to the child: a critique on Article 976 of the Civil Code of Iran and the single article of 2006. Legal Research Quarterly, 14(56), 333-370 (In Persian).
    9. Bayat Komitaki, M., & Balavi, (2015). The Right to Nationality; from Private International Law up to Human Rights. Private Law, 12(1), 129-150 (In Persian).
    10. Chach, S., & Abdipoor, E. (2019). Discrimination between Iranian Mother and Father in Passing of Nationality to Children. Comparative Law Review, 10(1), 261-278 (In Persian).
    11. Foroughiniya, H. (2012). Internationalization of Human Rights and Transformation in the Concept of Government Sovereignty in the Age of Globalization. Journal of Eslamic Human Rights, 1(1), 161-188 (In Persian).
    12. Gorji Azandaryani, A.A., & Moradi, N. (2014). Equality in the use of public services in the opinions of the Administrative Court of Justice. Administrative law, 2(5), 65-92 (In Persian).
    13. Hemmat, M. (2016). A Comparative Study of the Concept of Citizenship in Contemporary International Law Systems and Islamic Law. International and Political Research Quarterly, 7(25), 185-210 (In Persian).
    14. Hosseini, S. M., & karimi Nia, M.M. (2020). The Right to Immigrant Citizenship in Jurisprudence and Law. Journal of Eslamic Human Rights, 8(2), 9-32 (In Persian).
    15. Mousazadeh, R., Darabi Rad, S. (2019). Comparative Study of Deprivation of Nationality in European Countries and its Conformity with International Human Rights Lawn (2012-2017). Comparative Law Review, 10(2), 743-761 (In Persian).
    16. Movahedi, R., Malekuti Hashtjin, S. H., & Ranjbari, A. (2021). Equality and Non-Discrimination in Social Security in Islamic State. Quarterly Ethical Research, 9(4), 243-258 (In Persian).
    17. Nosrati, H. R., & Mohammadi, H. R. (2017). Explaining the Concept of Continuity or Destruction of National State Sovereignty. Research Political Geography Quarterly, 1(4), 41-66 (In Persian).
    18. Piraman, F., & Yadollahi, A. (2022). The Right to Citizenship under International Human Rights Law; a New Vision in the Age of Globalization. Culmination of Law, 8(2), 77-108 (In Persian).
    19. Sarvi Moghadam, M. (2004). An overview of the difference among nationality, citizenship and other similar terms in Iranian, British, American and French laws. Modares of Humanities Journal (Comparative law Research Quarterly), 8(3), 1-15 (In Persian).
    20. Tavassoli Naeini, M., & Pourmorad, R. (2017). The principle of unity of nationality in Iranian, Britain law and international Conventions. Private Law Research, 6(20), 9-33 (In Persian).
    21. Zamani, S. G., & Talaat, A. (2020). The Erosion of National Sovereignty in Contemporary International Law: from Authoritarian Sovereignty to Conditional Sovereignty. International Law Review, 37(62), 61-90 (In Persian).

     

    1. C) Cases
    2. Appeal Court of Mazandaran Province (2019). Division No. 19, Case No. 9809981977200268, Aug. 8 (In Persian).
    3. Appeal Court of Mazandaran Province (2021). Division No. 13, Case No 9809981920300323, May 20 (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 January 2027
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  • Receive Date: 09 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 28 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 03 February 2025
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