NPRA denies trade of Indian women in Bahrain

Manama : Reports claiming “Indian women are sold in Bahrain for around BD1000” were denied by the concerned authorities here yesterday.

Interior Ministry stated, “Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs (NPRA) denies the reports in foreign media, claiming human trafficking of members of the Indian community in Bahrain.”

The Ministry explained in a press statement, “The authority (NPRA) reiterated its commitment to international anti-human trafficking conventions and related national legislations regarding entry regulations into Bahrain.”

“Entry into Bahrain is possible through various types of visiting visas, in addition to work visas that are provided in cooperation with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA). All procedures of issuing visas have been approved in accordance to the rights of individuals, including legal actions against violators of related-rules and laws,” the statement read, quoting NPRA.

NPRA urged members of the media to seek information from reliable sources before publishing news, especially news that may harm the rights of individuals.

Several foreign media, including The Independent and Reuters, reported recently that Indian women were sold for GBP4000 in Saudi Arabia and GBP2000 in Bahrain.

The reports quoted Andhra Pradesh's Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Welfare Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy, who apparently made his claims in a letter to their Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.