Hassina and Shino's Story of Statelessness and Deprivation of Nationality

Husseina and Shino, a couple who have lived as stateless persons, have refused to let the restrictions on their civil rights define their lives. Instead, they have created a space for laughter, pursued their dreams, and worked tirelessly to build a better future for their two children. Behind the joyful videos they create lies a story marked by years of deprivation, imprisonment, and the denial of the most basic civil rights. Yet rather than surrendering to these hardships, they chose hope, using comedy as a way to celebrate life and resilience. In this report, Husseina and Shino share their journey and the hardships they have endured as a result of the 1962 Exceptional Census in Al-Hassakah Governorate, which stripped their families – and thousands of other Kurdish families – of Syrian nationality, leaving generations deprived of their fundamental rights. This report is part of the Women Building Justice: Stateless Persons – Life in the Shadows project, led by women who believe that justice is not granted but built, and that the voices of women – especially those directly affected and survivors – are the foundation of documentation, advocacy, and shaping a more just and inclusive future. #CIVICUS #LifeInTheShadows #WomenBuildingJustice #StatelessPersons #GAV