Judgment of the Limburg Court dated July 31, 2019

The applicant was given her official name, Amira*, at birth by her uncle. Her name was then officially registered with the authorities in Syria. However, her father was not aware of this because he was absent at the time of her birth due to work.

When the father returned, conflicts arose between him and the relatives of the applicant, including her mother. The applicant believes that her father did not find the official name suitable or that he resented the fact that she was given a name without his input. The applicant’s father made it clear to her that under these circumstances, he did not consider her his daughter, which caused her a lot of pain and sadness. Her father always felt that the name Yara was a much better fit and always addressed her by that name. On the other hand, acquaintances and relatives always referred to the applicant by her first name, Amira. This has always caused a lot of conflict and tension within the family.

After her marriage, the applicant experienced problems with the first name Amira again. Her husband’s family always addressed her by her birth name, Amira. Over the years, the applicant eventually became accustomed to using the name Yara, leading to a strained relationship with her husband’s family, as they began to doubt her credibility.

The applicant continues to experience (psychological) issues due to her current first name, as she feels that the name Amira brings nothing but bad luck. She has fully embraced the name Yara and wishes for it to be officially and definitively recorded. This is important to her because the name Yara is the name her father actually wanted to give her. She no longer wants to have to explain to third parties why her official name differs from the name she actually uses. She also wants to put her traumatic past in Syria behind her. Changing the applicant’s first name to Yara will bring her a certain (psychological) peace and allow her to build a new life in the country.

Furthermore, the importance of the requested name change by the applicant lies in the following: The applicant’s parents are deceased. Her spouse and children currently reside in Syria. The applicant has applied for family reunification for herself and her children based on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), but her husband has stated that he wants nothing to do with her or their children. This has caused a great deal of hardship and sorrow for the applicant, and for this reason, she would like to rebuild her life in the country and close the door on her (traumatic) past once and for all. Changing the applicant’s first name from Amira to Yara will positively contribute to this. Additionally, the importance of the name Yara lies in its connection to her deceased father and serves as a reminder of the pleasant moments she shared with him.

Based on the applicant’s motivation, the court grants the request.

*The real first names have been fictionalized.