By Noimot Olayiwola/Staff Reporter

Six Doha residents yesterday became French citizens after receiving their nationality documents from the French ambassador to Qatar Jean-Christophe Peaucelle at a brief ceremony held at his residence in Dafna.
The six people who originally hail from Lebanon, Morocco, Canada, Palestine and China, were seen beaming as they received the documents and were being congratulated by their family members and well-wishers.
“I am very grateful and happy at becoming a French citizen today. It is mixed feelings for me because I have lived in France for 12 years where I studied and worked. I already consider France a second home,” said Palestinian Dr Bahaa Abudaya, one of the new French citizens.
He said  France has given him a lot in terms of education, work and marital life as his wife is a French woman.
Dr Abudaya, who is the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf) curator, said his feeling about the citizenship was special because of ambassador Peaucelle’s words at the ceremony.
“The ambassador mentioned during his brief speech that my citizenship is some sort of exchange with Palestine because his daughter, born in Jerusalem, was the only member of his family with a Palestinian passport, which was given to her by our late president Yasser Arafat when he (ambassador) was French consul general in Jerusalem,” he said.
However, he reaffirmed that despite having a citizenship of another country, he still holds high hopes of seeing a Palestinian state born one day.
“I still believe in a Palestinian state, despite  the present situation not giving any hope. It’s a cause we’ll keep fighting for until it is achieved,” he said.
Another new French citizen from Lebanon Hazem Idriss also expressed joy over the accomplishment  but added that he’ll still hold dear his Lebanese origin.
“I am married to a French woman and my daughter is also a French citizen, so I feel proud to share their nationality. Of course, I will not renounce my Lebanese citizenship due to this new development in my life,” he said.
Idriss has been living in Qatar for 10 years.
Speaking about the new citizens, ambassador Peaucelle said he was happy to welcome the six into the French community in Qatar.
“Getting the French citizenship is something that is much alive as they are entering the French family while upholding its values, the culture and history and the spirit of the motto of the republic which emphasises ‘Liberty, Equality and Brotherhood’ for all citizens,” he said.
“When they become French, they are as French as others…there is no difference between French citizens. You can be born in France or abroad or your parents can be French or foreigners, there is no difference when you are French, you are fully French,” ambassador Peaucelle reaffirmed.
The duration of processing the papers for French nationality depends on each applicant’s history.
“One lady from Morocco was one year old when she came to France and didn’t ask for a citizenship until now and finally she did. This diversity makes ours a rich community,” he said.
He mentioned that several other papers for citizenship are under processing adding that the French community in Qatar comprises close to 4,000 citizens.
“France offers a lot to its citizens and they also offer a lot in return to the country,” he noted.
According to the official, there are conditions to be met before applying for French citizenship, citing as example that some of the new French were married to a French citizen.
“Aside for being married to a French national, part of the condition is also that they must remain married for a certain length of time before the non-French partner can apply for citizenship, as well as be able to speak and communicate clearly in French,” he added.
“Learning the language will only show their willingness to be part of the French community and not only because they need the citizenship,” he added.
On Qatar-France ties, he said the relations are good and very precious to each country and that they are still working hard to ensure that the (relations) get better.
“There is a lot of confidence for collaboration between both countries in all fields,” he mentioned.