Hope for ‘stateless’ children
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 7 February 2007
CHILDREN born to a Bahraini mother would automatically get Bahraini nationality, under an amendment to the Nationality Law proposed by parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani yesterday.
Under the current law, children born to a Bahraini mother who is married to a foreigner do not automatically qualify for nationality.
Mr Al Dhahrani’s proposal would mean automatic Bahraini nationality if either parent is Bahraini, whether the child is born here or abroad.
He said the Nationality Law, introduced in 1963, had not been amended since 1989 and was out of date. “Its articles are not in line with political and social changes the country is seeing,” said Mr Al Dhahrani.
Hope for ‘stateless’ children
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 7 February 2007
CHILDREN born to a Bahraini mother would automatically get Bahraini nationality, under an amendment to the Nationality Law proposed by parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani yesterday.
Under the current law, children born to a Bahraini mother who is married to a foreigner do not automatically qualify for nationality.
Mr Al Dhahrani’s proposal would mean automatic Bahraini nationality if either parent is Bahraini, whether the child is born here or abroad.
He said the Nationality Law, introduced in 1963, had not been amended since 1989 and was out of date. “Its articles are not in line with political and social changes the country is seeing,” said Mr Al Dhahrani.
“It is against the Constitution, which calls for equality between men and women. The current article only allows nationality to the son of a Bahraini mother if she has an illegitimate child or his father is unknown.
“This is unfair because this means the son of a Bahraini woman is not given nationality, while someone whose father is unknown gets it.”
The proposal will be studied by parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee before being discussed on the open floor.
© Gulf Daily News
