A/HRC/7/23 page 19 60. In Nepal, ingrained discriminatory sentiments mainly against Madhesis, Dalit and Janjatis have been blamed for the denial or deprivation of citizenship and undocumented status of such groups. However, the Government recently granted citizenship to about 2.4 million previously stateless persons, including approximately 1.2 million Madhesis from the Terai region. This was made possible by the introduction of a new citizenship law in 2006, followed by a government initiative in early 2007 to create mobile teams which visited the country’s 75 districts, including the remotest of regions, to issue citizenship certificates. Efforts are still needed to ensure that those who did not benefit from the latter process may take advantage of opportunities for late registration. 61. In Sri Lanka, despite having lived there for generations, “estate” or “plantation” Tamils were historically denied the right to Sri Lankan nationality because of their status as plantation workers and the country’s stringent citizenship laws. Following community efforts, in 2003, legal developments led to the immediate conferral of citizenship to this minority group. Mobile clinics and information campaigns supported by UNHCR and the direct involvement of the minority concerned were critical to success. Follow-up is however necessary, as reports indicate that the process of obtaining the necessary documentation has slowed down in recent years; a problem which may be associated with the ongoing conflict in the country. 62. According to information presented by participants at the expert consultation, in the Middle East region, denial or deprivation of citizenship is widespread and complex and reportedly affects minority groups including, but not limited to, Palestinians, Kurdish communities and the Baha’i minority. In Israel, for example, the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) of 31 May 2003 suspends the possibility of Palestinians from the Occupied Palestinian Territory from obtaining Israeli citizenship and residence permits in Israel, including through family reunification. According to seminar participants, the effect of this discriminatory law is that thousands of Palestinian families must separate, emigrate or live illegally in Israel under constant risk of arrest and deportation.27 63. According to seminar participants, in 1962, an exceptional census aimed to differentiate between Kurds who had a right to live in the Syrian Arab Republic and those who had illegally entered from Turkey or Iraq after 1945 was conducted. Thousands were subsequently stripped of Syrian citizenship. Reportedly, little notice of the census was given and insufficient information was distributed regarding the consequences of not participating. Thousands were unable to provide the required documentation proving their residency before 1945. Of over 1.5 million Kurds, current estimates of those denied or deprived of citizenship reach 300,000. Stateless Kurds are reportedly denied full access to their rights, including the right to own property, to have access to public services and to use the Kurdish language in education. While the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic has, since 2004, made promises to grant nationality, the independent expert is informed that thousands remain registered as Ajanib or foreigners in the country. 27 Report of the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination in the Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second session, Supplement No. 18 (A/62/18), para. 213.