التجنيس السياسي في البحرين | Political Naturalisation in Bahrain

Gulf News

By Habib Toumi, Bahrain Bureau Chief

Published: January 31, 2009, 17:36

المزيد

(AFP)
30 January 2009

MANAMA - Thousands of Bahrainis, mainly Shia Muslims, protested on Friday against the Sunni-ruled country’s citizenship law which opposition groups say favours Sunnis.
The protesters marched in the streets of Manama carrying placards that said “naturalisation is an absolute evil” and “for the good of Bahrain, stop the naturalisation,” an AFP correspondent said.

Police said that 12,000 people took part in the demonstration while six opposition groups, most of them Shias, estimated that 20,000 protesters answered their call to protest.

The opposition has repeatedly accused Bahrain’s Sunni authorities of manipulating the confessional make-up of the tiny Western-backed archipelago by naturalising large numbers of Sunnis.

The government says that it is implementing without discrimination Bahrain’s 1963 citizenship law which stipulates that permanent residents of the Gulf state can apply for citizenship after a certain number of years.

Last April Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Ahmad bin Attiyatallah al-Khalifa was quizzed by parliament over allegations he had tried to alter the country’s sectarian balance.

Ahmed, a Sunni who
المزيد

Some of the tens of thousands of Bahrainis fill the streets in Manama, Bahrain, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. Riot police in the capital of Bahrain have used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters angry with perceived government discrimination against the Shiite majority. Friday’s clash came after a peaceful demonstration earlier in the day by thousands of Bahrainis.
(AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Men hold posters which read, “No to Political Naturalisation” during a rally to protest against the government’s procedure of naturalisation, in Manama January 30, 2009.
REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed (BAHRAIN)

Women hold posters which read, “No to Political Naturalisation” during a rally to protest against the government’s procedure of naturalisation, in Manama January 3
المزيد

April 09, 2008

Bahrain’s demographics and politics are rather unlike those of most states. In terms of citizenry, it is the only Shiite majority nation still ruled by Sunnis. However, the foreign-born, non-citizen population nearly equals that of actual citizens. Now, a reported 82.5% rise in the foreign-born population, combined with a 15% rise in the number of citizens over the past year, has rekindled fears that Bahrain’s ruling Sunni minority is implementing a rumored plan to suppress the country’s Shiites. Those fears, along with economic discontent, have resulted in riots and protests outside of the capital, Manama.

In 2006, a former government consultant wrote a 216 page report alleging that the ruling Sunni minority had devised a plan to marginalize Bahrain’s majority Shiite community. The report described a wide conspiracy involving planting false news articles in the local press, naturalizing foreign-born Sunnis, and inciting campaigns against opposition figures via cell-phone text messages. The ensuing controversy, dubbed “Bandargate” by the local media after the report’s author, inspired protests in the capital, led to expulsion on charges of sedition against its author (a British citizen), and resulted in a walkout by Shiite lawmakers after their request for an investigation into the allegations was defeated. Recent rumors that citizenship papers were being distributed to wealthy Saudis has brought the controversy back to the forefront.

As the 2006 Countries at the Crossroads report noted, tensions between Sunni and Shiite communities in Bahrain flared during the mid-1990s alongs

المزيد

Action Plan for Resettlement of Indigenous People of Bahrain

Abduljalil Alsingace
12 March 2007

English amateur translation of “Naturalization Challenges: Estimates and Indicators”
The third chapter of “Bahrain: 2005-2010, the first part of the Plan of Action of Secret Web”

Summary:

In the first week of January 2007, the UK-based Gulf Center for Democratic Development (GCDD) issued its second report (compilation of confidential documents) about secret plots conspiring against the people of Bahrain. The plots are lead, managed and financed by institutions and members of the ruling Al-khalifa family.
The 240 pages report, titled: “Bahrain: 2005-2010, the first part of the Plan of Action of Secret Web“[1], is composed of six main Chapters;
· The first chapter, titled Containment of Scholar “Olama” Council, includes a detailed plan for activating the role of the security services in tightening its grip on the Shiite religious organizations, places of worship, charitable organizations and its cultural and social frontages.
· The second chapter gives an overall perception of the methodology the State, represented by the Royal Court and the executive bodies to unify addressing the issues of concerns which involve the constitution amendments, naturalization, political societies code, law for family provisions, judiciary and endowments.
· The third chapter is concerned with the priorities for the naturalization challenge and the need for a strategic decision in which the “exception” in granting citizenship to prevail over, and consider meeting naturalization requirement as being the exception. It monitors the priorities in targeted nationalities as sources of naturalization, and sets the requirement for naturalization of 50 thousand people per year, starting by the year 2005, so that a sectarian balance is achieved by the end of the year 2010.
· The fourth chapter focuses on laying down necessary steps to rehabilitate and contain civic societies, by empowering mechanisms of the Ministries of Social Affairs and Justice. It also shed light on the re-injection of military employees of Ministries of Defense, Interior and the National Guards in the civilian life in order to undermine and curb the civic organizations.
· The fifth chapter is concerned with the strategic plan to orientate youths, the ways to keep them from the influence of religious leaders, and identifying alternative incubators for enhancing the youth’s loyalty to the Regime.
· The sixth chapter focuses on the role of the American Embassy in Manama, the way to contain its activities and influencing its support for civic organizations in the light of Democratization Law. This covers the plan to expel National Democratic Institute (NDI) from Bahrain and the mean of impinge on the reporting of the Embassy.

Remarks:

Below is an amateur English translation of the action plan meant for resettlement of indigenous people of Bahrain. Some basic remarks are noted:
The first part covers abridgment of the need for naturalization and concluding that irrespective of the practiced legislation in many countries, Bahrain should resort to further extend the privilege to the head of State and empower him to accomplish demographic manipulation within certain framework. This is justified by the imbalance in the demographic status and its danger on the future of the regime and its sovereignty!
· The second part covers how the Regime looks at reproduction of Shia in Bahrain and who all guided and supported attempts to compete that growth by Sunnis fail. It also gives a chart showing the Sunni and Shia population growth, and the alternative schemes (required naturalization number) to over turn the Shia imbalance. It concludes that the plan should focus on granting nationality to “strategic” 50 thousands of “loyal” Sunnis per year. This plan should be completed by the year 2010.
· The next part evaluates the alternative sources, types (characteristics) of nationalities and the expected possible number to be imported to Bahrain.
· Next is a media campaign guidelines to obtain advocacy and support of the local Sunnis as well as opposition.
· The possible recommendations out of alternatives brought forward previously, are laid down.
· These are summarized in a table showing the expected number of Sunnis of the targeted nationalities.
· The challenges and policy facing granting nationality to Asian migrant workers.
· The chapter concludes with forming a standing committee chaired by the head of the Royal court: Sh. Mohammed bin Attiyatallah Al-khalifa
· Introducing this issue in the house of deputies should be prevented at all costs.

Translation:
“Naturalization Challenges: Estimates and Indicators”

· Acquiring nationality: legal + political relationship between Bahrain and any naturalized individual (loyalty)
· Any grant of citizenship aim is to take place, taking into account the protection of Bahrain’s security National (population balance + sectarian + ethnic).
· There are conditions (written + oral) defines the executive framework (public + private + exceptional) through which the naturalization process is upheld. The ultimate goal is to facilitate opportunities for the integration and rapid adaptation among naturalized.
· knowledge used in the state is a true proof of merge or susceptibility to thaw in the society.
· There are other additional conditions, for example, Syrian law makes sure the integration of the naturalization applicant, where he request, as guarantee requirement, to replace his foreign name with Arabic one, while Saudi Arabia obliges conversion to Islam, without it would be considered concession prejudice to the root of its entity.
· General Conditions (West and East except Israel) are not for the naturalized to be burden on the State (Financially, Ethically or health wise) and to have the minimum characteristics of a citizen. It is favored that he/she has a legitimate source of earning, and a minimum level of education. It might be preferable for him/her to have a capital (Western Countries), registered real estate (Bahrain) or expertise which could be useful (Syria + Egypt) etc.
· The most important condition, which should not be conceded, is loyalty to the State, respect its systems, and the integrity of the political system or State entity (Economic + community + political).
· All States define a minimum residency so that it could be considered in the application of the naturalized, 5 years (France + Japan + Britain + Tunisia), 10 consecutive years coupled with the knowledge adequate Arabic language, and Arab origin (Bahrain), Islam (Saudi Arabia), 15 years (Oman), 20 years (UAE + Qatar + Kuwait), or 25 consecutive years of non-Arab (Bahrain).
· Number of years of residence, could be reduced in some cases. UAE grants citizenship to the citizens of Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, after three years of residence. Qatar, however, considers the application of Arab resident, when staying for a period of seven years.
The case of Bahrain needs a strategic brave decision to make the exception (in granting citizenship) prevails over meeting the conditions, which should be made the exception. This is for reasons relating to the particular conditions in Bahrain, the most important of which is the imbalance in the demographic status and its danger on the future of the regime and its sovereignty.

Initially, naturalization, a political right of any State, is not governed by any international charters and covenants, until now. Each State has its own policies, consistent with its needs and national security priorities (economic + political + social, etc. Bahrain is not in isolation from the rest of the world.

Bahrain, its identity, future of its generations, its culture and history are on the line, if the sectarian demography flaw stayed prevailing.

Shiite, through its tools (education + work + birth), in addition to other factors (Sunni Migration to neighboring states + migration of Shiites to Bahrain), was able to reverse the percentage (Shiite to Sunni)during 20 years (see 1941Census) .

The Shiite leadership (religious/political) put the issue of “nationalization” at the top of its provocative and inflammatory agenda (social bombs) to continue its current control (economically + population) and consider it a guarantee to impose political control and seizure over the regime.

The “naturalization” issue is one of the most important primary pillars in opposition discourse and is directed to implicate external provocation against the Kingdom and its symbols. It will remain on the agenda in the foreseeable future. The opposition is currently active in the formation of a “national committee to combat naturalization” and is working to amend the 1963 nationality law in order to achieve full control of the naturalization process. It also aims to codify preventing the naturalized of exercising the political right of nomination, election and managing a public office. The objectives of the opposition (Secular+ religious Shiit) is to impose its agenda aiming at affirming dominance of Shia sect on the future of the country and provoke racial as well as sectarian sentiments to serve its political objectives.

This was evident from the primary recommendations of the Naturalization committee, formed by the House of Representatives (May 2004), and the most important points were:

· ascertain the fulfillment of applicants for naturalization conditions specified in 1963 law (public + private + exceptions to the Majesty the king).
· forming a regulatory body to follow up the steps to grant nationality.
· specifying clear criteria for the exception cases.
· Limiting naturalization only to the actual needs of the State.
· Disclosing orders granting citizenship, its withdrawal and abolishment in official Gazette.

The State has exhausted efforts to overcome these recommendations and avoid non-compliance.

• Naturalization file shall resurface strongly in September 2005, after a period of six months granted by the House of Representatives to the Minister of the Interior to respond to the report of the Special Committee investigating the matter.

• Shia depuites Abdulhadi Marhoon + Ali Al-Samahiji + Abdulnabi Salman + Mohammad Abbas Al-Sheikh + Jassem Abdulaal will exploit the “nationalization” file, in a dirty manner, as Bahrain enters the electoral battle in 2006.

The following chart shows the difference, in numbers between the population of the two sects (Shia and Sunni), will continue forever. It would create a state of escalating sectarian confrontations and encourage targeting the regime, if things persists unchanged.
The alternative option should bear in mind the outcome of currently prevailing procedures aimed at changing the population demography. They are:

Focus on the naturalization of expertise (Arab and foreign). The number is small, and does not exceed at best 2000 case per year. The families of these competencies are usually small (number of children do not exceed 3).
The cases, currently under consideration, at best and of all groups, do not exceed 25 thousand application. It is estimated that it will not contribute significantly in changing the situation. During 6 months of 2003, for instance, the naturalization cases did not exceed 7300.
The proposal to facilitate for the conditions of the dual nationality with Qatar, at best, will add not more than three thousand naturalized. The issue becomes more moral than practical, especially with the desire of Qatari Authorities not to grant nationality to the “Baharneh”- Shiite Bahrainis.
Dual citizenship with Saudi Arabia didnot not produce more than 15 thousand naturalized. In the previous elections- meaning 2002 election- their effect was very limited in constituencies, but was its political exploitation was frightening.
Continue to negotiate with the tribes of Saudi Arabia to support dual naturalization. This will provide, at most, 60 thousand people, but most of them will not move to Bahrain and will just act as reserve, for periodic “urgency”.
Collective marriage. Despite its low cost (340 marriages cost 30 thousand Dinars), its impact, at the end, is more than limited. For example, the Islamic Education Society (Salafi), a leader in the collective marriage project, facilitated collective marriage of about 2500 marriages, during the period from 1992-2005. Only 70% of the marital relationships lasted and contributed in increasing the number of the Sunni population of 6 thousand child during the 13 years.
But the Shiite community encircled this project, adopted the same idea and applied it with effectiveness. They managed to secure internal and external support (UAE + Kuwait) – for the collective marriage project- and organized joint events by it charity funds, to facilitate, in one month (May 2005), 700 Shiite marriage cases against 300 Sunni cases in that year. Not to mention the cases of marriage (temporary “mutaha” or permanent), which are increasingly promoted during Ashura between the Shiites men of Saudi Arabia (From Hasa area) and Al-Baharna women!!

Despite the importance of continuing and ensuring not naturalizing Shiites of Iranian or Iraqi origin, because of its justified danger to the national security, and because the loyalty of these is questionable (loyalty is to Iran and not to Bahrain). However, the current procedures allow naturalization of these people on an average of one thousand individual a year. We believe that effective option must consider the experience mentioned earlier, in particular the Israeli experience, benefiting from its course and the difference in circumstances.

When Israel felt that number of Jews immigrants from the Western countries constantly decreased, because of the decline in the stand
المزيد

Mar 25, 2008

MANAMA (AFP) — Shiite opposition MPs in Bahrain on Tuesday called for a government minister from the ruling Sunni dynasty to be questioned for allegedly concealing information about the country’s population.

Opposition groups have long accused the Sunni-controlled government of secretly naturalising Sunni residents in a bid to alter the demographic balance of the tiny Gulf state, which has a Shiite majority.

A request to grill Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Ahmad bin Atiyatullah al-Khalifa, who heads the Central Information Organisation (CIO), was presented to the office of the parliament speaker, "and we expect to receive a response by next week," MP Khalil al-Marzuk told AFP.

Marzuk is deputy head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islamic National Accord Association (INAA), the main Shiite political formation, which has asked to question Bin Atiyatullah.

The decision lies with a committee of MPs attached to the speaker’s

المزيد

المزيد

by Amy Glass

A leading Bahraini MP on Tuesday accused the government of secretly nationalising expatriates and covering up the kingdom’s soaring population for political reasons.

Bahrain’s population is made up of majority Shi’ite Muslims, but the kingdom is ruled by a Sunni dynasty. The government has been accused in the past of naturalising Sunni Muslims in an effort to change the demography.

Sheikh Ali Salman, chairman of the Al Wefaq parliamentary bloc, called for the sacking of Cabinet Affairs Minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Ateyetala, accusing him of either failing to keep track of population growth or hiding the figures because of the high number of naturalised expatriates, reported Bahrain’s Gulf Daily News.

In a written response to a parliamentary question by Sheikh Salman, Sheikh Ahmed, also responsible for the Central Informatics Organisation (CIO), revealed Bahrain’s population to be 1,046,814, of which 529,446 are nationals.

"The cabinet affairs minister has stunned us all, as we thought that the population was j

المزيد

T… he Amir promised to finalise the problem of stateless nationals (those who did not hold Bahraini passports) by the end of December 2001. More than 8,000 people were naturalised, among them many foreigners engaged in the army and the security forces. Most came from Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Sudan, Pakistan and Baluchistan.
Employment of Shiites in the army and the security forces is still restricted.
Moreover, according to unpublished rules, it is prohibit
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