Children’s citizenship: MPs to support Bahraini women

Parliamentarians have agreed to support Bahraini women’s right to transfer her citizenship to children. 

The move follows a special meeting held at the Parliament House yesterday between Woman and Child Committee in Parliament and Bahrain Women’s Union (BWU), marking Arab Women’s Day. 

Chairperson of Woman and Child Committee MP Roua Al Hayki chaired the meeting. President of BWU Fatima Abo Edrees headed their side.  BWU members Nadia Almastaki and Shazlan Khames were also present. Following the meeting, Al Hayki said that they had decided to work on a priority basis on the issue of giving citizenship to the children of Bahraini women married to the non-Bahrainis. 

“It had been the repeated demand of the BWU.” Al Hayki said there were many who were suffering due to this law that did not allow women to pass citizenship to their children. 

She also revealed that they had discussed about collaborating on social level in the upcoming months especially on highlighting the issue of awareness for women’s rights in the society.

“We agreed that all concerns need to be addressed and should be converted to legislation on a priority basis,” Al Hayki stressed.

According to Bahraini law,  children in Bahrain derive their citizenship from fathers, which is also a matter of concern to many Bahraini women who are married to non-Bahrainis.