ECtHR - Ramadan v Malta

Court name: European Court of Human Rights
State: Malta
Date of decision:
Legal instruments: 1997 European Convention on Nationality, European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), European Union law
Key aspects: Acquisition of nationality, Deprivation of nationality, Respect for private and family life, Statelessness determination

An Egyptian national, who resided in Malta and acquired Maltese nationality, was granted authorisation to renounce his Egyptian nationality as he could not hold dual nationality while in Malta. He was deprived of his Maltese nationality years later, following a decision that found that he had obtained his Maltese nationality from his first marriage through fraud. The Court found that there was no violation of Article 8 and held that the decision to deprive the applicant of his Maltese nationality did not adversely affect him.