A Reluctant King: More Political Tensions on the Gulf……………..
“The Bahrain royal Court has refused to receive a petition to the king presented by a broad coalition against political naturalization of foreigners. The organizers are a coalition of Shi’a and Sunni groups who oppose the regime use of speedy and selective naturalization for [political purposes. The goal is to dilute the Shi’a majority population (70%) and to reduce the influence of those native Shi’as and Sunnis who seek reform and end to corruption…….. a leader of the sponsors said that refusal to accept the petition is a negative sign, even though such petition is constitutional.……….The opposition plan a day of peaceful protests on October 30……….” al-Quds l-Arabi
This issue has been a bone of contention between the regime and the opposition, as well as the majority Shi’a community at large. The regime is reported, by Bahrainis and the foreign media, to have resorted to importing thousands of people from Sunni Arab countries (Jordan, Saudi, Iraqi Sunnis, often former security agents and goons) and Pakistan and giving them citizenship, before hiring them in the security services. At the same time, unemployment is very high among the underclass majority Shi’as. There have been violent incidents between natives (both Shi’as and Sunnis) and the newcomers.
The government, like Arab oligarchs all over, resorts to blatant lying, denying that is happening. Reformists complain that since the legislature is (at least) half-appointed by the king , there is no official debate on the issue. They argue that everybody knows that it is in fact happening. (Even I believe that it is happening. Even the New York Times knows that, although not through Thomas Friedman.)
Giving citizenship is usually the prerogative of the Minister of Interior (security services) and he is a member of the ruling family. He decides who gets and who loses citizenship, regardless of birth or history.
Cheers
mhg
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