All the remaining people without valid documents living in the Kingdom of Bahrain will be granted citizenship, according to a Royal Order issued on Saturday, a top-ranking immigration official announced Saturday night.
Moreover, all non-Bahrainis who were deported in the past couple of years for political reasons and have Bahraini relatives will be allowed to return under the directives of the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, said Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Immigration and Passports at the Ministry of Interior.
This marks the latest of a series of humanitarian initiatives taken by the King in line with the political reforms he has initiated since his accession to power three years ago, according to Gulf News.
An estimated 1,000 people without valid documents will get Bahraini citizenship under the initiative, said Sheikh Rashid. He added that the royal order would be implemented as of Sunday. In the meantime, those non-Bahrainis who will be allowed to return and who all live in Iran, will be contacted through the Iranian Embassy in Bahrain, he added. (Albawaba.com)
