Woman seeks rights to stay with mother

Manama : Samia Shaikh, the eldest daughter of a family of Indian origin, has to spend BD50, every two weeks, just to spend some time with her ailing mother in Bahrain. 

Samia  also revealed that the unfortunate events had pushed her mother into a constant state of  depression. 

As the only member of her  family without Bahraini citizenship, she is currently living with her husband, in Saudi Arabia, who is also an Indian. 

Arrived Bahrain in 1995

Born in Hyderabad, she arrived in Bahrain with her mother, Parveen Shaikh, in  1995 and studied in the Indian School till Std V. In 2011, her family shifted to Bahrain except Samia who went to pursue her graduation in India

Samia’s father Shaikh Haneef, who died from cardiac arrest in 2014, was unable to procure citizenship for Samia though her two sisters and a brother received it in 2013. Samia’s mother also received  the citizenship in the same year.

Though several pleas have been made in this regard, the Nationality, Passport & Residence Affairs (NPRA) is yet to respond to the issue, the family claims. 

Speaking to DT News, Samia said, “My father worked in the Bahrain’s Interior Ministry for 30 years and received his Bahrain nationality in 2010. He lost his life in the process of getting me a visa. It was his last wish. I have waited for five years and now I need my passport as early as possible.”

“After the untimely demise of my father, my mother is suffering from depression, thyroid, diabetes and heart problems. I manage to get a fifteen days visa but after that, I have to pay BD50 to extend the stay for every two weeks, which I cannot afford. I have lost my father and do not want to lose my mother too,” she said. 

She says that the government has been very supportive to her family after their father’s death and she pleads that she should be given her rights too.

What next?

When asked about their next move, Maria, one of Samia’s sisters replied that she had contacted the Supreme Council for Women. But not fruitful as the Council said they couldn’t do anything since Samia was married.  

Speaking to DT News, Maria said, “We went to the immigration office many times. I do not know what else I can do. There is not much improvement in our mother’s health even though she is under treatment. She is in bed all day.” Maria studies in the University of Bahrain and her siblings in the Indian School Bahrain. 

She said that her sister can come to Bahrain anytime she wants but only for 15 days. “This period of stay is not enough to help an ailing mother and helpless children,” she tells. 

“My father died for this country and I know the country won’t let us down. I know there may be many cases pending regarding nationality issues but my sister’s case is special and critical,” she stated.

Samia’s husband works for a Telecom Company and sometimes he has to work in shifts. As a result she cannot come to Bahrain whenever necessary. She finds it difficult to travel without her husband due to the visa formalities. She has a son, born in Bahrain and is now two years old.

Samia requests the authorities to consider her as ‘a child of Bahrain’ and give her rights to stay close to her family. 

She had received a call from Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs saying that they would look into the matter. Samia is still waiting for a positive response.