Consequences of a Marriage
My name is Amal. I am Jordanian but of Palestinian origin and married to a Palestinian national. The marriage was considered normal and acceptable because of my Palestinian lineage.
At the time, nationality and identity were of little importance to me. I used to ignore everything about nationality and residence, but now I recognize the social consequences of my marriage.
My husband and I have ten daughters and two sons. Some have studied up to high school. My husband moved to Jordan and held the red ID card which he could have exchanged for a Jordanian passport. But he didn’t.
I feel sad and miserable. My children suffer from not holding Jordanian nationality, even though I am Jordanian. They were not able to finish school, since teachers and principals did not allow them in if they did not submit the required documents. Each time, I was able to have my daughters back in school through a bit of string-pulling. But, when they reached the high-school diploma, they were forbidden from continuing their studies and were obliged to stay home.
Every time I think about my children, I go crazy and feel desperate. My children are lost; they are constantly blaming me for their situation. My children have no rights. This is why I do not feel Jordanian. Were my daughters considered Jordanian nationals, they would have been able to finish their studies, work, and improve their situation and ours. We could have got out of this abyss.
Poor people like us have no rights. If I could start over again, I would marry someone with a recognized identity.
Entry Filed under: Countries, Jordan, Testimonies