Portugal has started granting citizenship rights to the descendants of Jews it persecuted five centuries ago. The Justice Ministry said Tuesday that on Oct. 2 it approved the first three of more than 200 applications it has received so far. The other applications are still being processed following a law that began in March. Seeking to make amends for past wrongdoing, both Portugal and Spain adopted laws this year allowing citizenship for descendants of Sephardi Jews persecuted during the Inquisition. Alfonso Paredes Henriquez, a Panama-based real estate developer, said he and his brother were among Portugal's successful applicants. They are entitled to a passport and the right to work and live in the 28-nation European Union. Paredes Henriquez said he initially intended to request Spanish citizenship but switched to Portugal after Spain's delays in enacting its law, which was finally approved in June. The Jewish Community of Oporto in northern Portugal, which is one of the organizations vetting applications, said Paredes Henriquez is a descendant of Spanish and Portuguese Jews. His ancestors were Rabbi Eliau Abraham Lopez, the great Sephardi rabbi of the Spanish-Portuguese community in Curaçao and of Spanish origin, and his wife Rachel Nunes da Fonseca, of Portuguese origin. The Community said Tuesday it has issued certificates for Jews from 23 countries, with two-thirds of them for Sephardi Jews from Turkey.
Portugal begins granting citizenship to Sephardic Jews
Justice Ministry approves the first three of over 200 applications from Jews descended from former residents forced to leave Portugal • Jewish Community of Oporto has verified the requests of 23 applicants, two-thirds of whom are from Turkey.
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