Madagascar

In Madagascar the Karana, who are a Muslim minority population descended from South Asian immigrants, have been systematically denied Malagasy citizenship since independence. In order to apply for a national identity card, a birth and residency certificate must be provided. However, officers may request further documentation. This discretion is often exercised where an individual is perceived as possessing a “foreign” name. Where individuals are suspected of not being a national, they have been refused documentation. In particular, children with Arab, Muslim or Comorian sounding names encounter difficulties in the application process.