Like the universal law regarding nationality, Bahraini citizenship too allows father’s nationality to pass on to their children, effectively denying native women married to foreigners this right. The women activists however, are not in favor of this law and thus have mounted pressure on authorities for the citizenship rights of children born to Bahraini mothers and foreign fathers.
Bahrain Women’s Association head Dr Wajeeha Al Baharna asserted that several cases have come up where children have put forward their grievances regarding the citizenship but are unable to avail it because of their father’s different nationality.
Thus, the women activists would carry forward their idea with the help of regional seminar. Dr Wajeeha stated the conference in Manama would review the experience of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt in granting their female citizens greater citizenship rights, including the possibility of passing their nationality to their children.
She added, ‘We will also have papers from Lebanon, Oman, Kuwait, Algeria and Morocco with recommendations on the issue.’
