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The ordeal faced by children of Bahraini mothers married to foreigners while living in Bahrain could end soon.
MPs yesterday unanimously voted in favour of amendments to the 1965 Foreigners (Migration and Residency) Law that would give long-term residency to such children on criteria to be determined by the Interior Minister.
It wouldn’t, however, apply to children who have found jobs or are aged 25 and above.
The original proposal, which will be now drafted into a proper law within six months, was presented by five MPs led by Fatima Al Qatari.
Some MPs claimed that among the loopholes being used was Bahraini mothers paying to register their children as employees in local businesses, or show them as their own employees.
Some children are living illegally.
“The number of children aged above 18 of Bahraini mothers is limited, and helping them will not be a burden,” said Ms Al Qatari.
Bader Al Dossary, one of the five MPs who backed the proposal, said the mothers were living in a state of panic that their children could be forced out of the country at any time.
“Children with non-Bahraini fathers are being treated as outsiders after they reach a certain age, and their Bahraini mothers are under mental pressure that they could be asked to leave the country at any time.”
Parliament first vice-chairman Abdulnabi Salman said scores of letters have been written to him by distressed Bahraini mothers seeking long-term residency, and demanding their children be given nationality at some point.
“The Constitution states equality between men and women, but the current situation with children of Bahraini mothers reflects otherwise,” he said.
“Those families are facing trouble in courts, work, schools and daily business while being robbed of proper services as others.”
Parliament second vice-chairman Ali Al Zayed said the issue was not just with Bahraini mothers married to expats and residing in Bahrain, but also those divorced or separated and have for years lived in Bahrain.
“One such child went to study at university abroad and was not allowed back in Bahrain,” he said.
“Marrying foreigners is not a crime; unfortunately, old laws see it as such, with children paying the price.”
Khalid Bu Onk said it was deplorable that Bahraini mothers married to foreigners were registering their children as workers under them.
“Mothers register their children as drivers, or as employees with companies and paying for that.”
An Interior Ministry official said free, renewable two-year residency until the age of 18 is now being given to children of Bahraini mothers with foreign spouses.
“In the case of girls, they continue to be under their mothers’ sponsorship until they move to that of their husbands if Bahraini,” he said.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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