Spain’s government has approved a draft law which will grant nationality to the descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from the country.
The country’s Jews began leaving the county in significant numbers following the imposition of the 1492 Inquisition. They continued to leave over the course of at least the next three centuries.
Around 300,000 Jews had been living in Spain when the royal edict from Isabella and Ferdinand ordered both Jews and Muslims to convert to Catholicism or leave the country or face death.
Now their descendants will have the ability to obtain Spanish citizenship without having to give up their current citizenship, or in other words to be dual nationals.
As many as 3.5 million Sephardic Jews are thought to be eligible. Over the course of the centuries, Spanish Jews went to many countries, including the Balkans, France, Morocco, Mexico, Argentina, Costa Rica, and the US.
The bulk is believed to have gone to the Ottoman Empire, then at its zenith, which welcomed them and valued the skills they contributed.
Applicants must prove their Sephardic background through a certificate from the federation of the Jewish community in Spain or from the head of the Jewish community in which they reside, through their language or ancestry.
Spanish law does not normally allow dual citizenship except for people from Portugal, neighbouring Andorra or its former colonies, such as the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Latin American countries.
The law must next be approved by the Spanish parliament, but its passage is in little doubt.
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The Portuguese parliament passed legislation facilitating the naturalization of descendants of 16th-century Jews who fled because of religious persecution. On that day Portugal became the only country besides Israel enforcing a Jewish Law of Return. Soon after, Spain adopted a similar measure.
It allows descendants of Jews who were expelled in the 16th century to become citizens if they "belong to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin with ties to Portugal,"
Applicants must be able to show "Sephardic names." Another factor is "the language spoken at home," a reference which also applies to Ladino. The amendment also says applicants need not reside in Portugal, an exception to the requirement of six years of consecutive residency in Portugal for any applicant for citizenship.
Very forward and modern thinking by Spain. No doubt nothing to do with valuing the money they bring in ?
No doubt they will next soon also offer joint nationality to any British Gibraltarians wanting it - so doing away with all the day to day trivial nuisances like constant harassment and the opening of the British Governments diplomatic bags.
Becoming more European .... Portugal could learn from the Spanish.