Gulf | Bahrain
Bahrain's exclusion of Arabs for visa facilities draws flak
A lawmaker on Thursday slammed the government of not including any Arab citizens in a list of states whose nationals are allowed to obtain visas upon arrival.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:06 July 18, 2008
Manama: A lawmaker on Thursday slammed the government of not including any Arab citizens in a list of states whose nationals are allowed to obtain visas upon arrival.
MP Hamad Al Muhanadi told Gulf News the government decided in the beginning of the week to include Russia and India in the list of 35 countries, while highlighting his objection of excluding Arab countries.
"Nothing could justify excluding Arabs as they should be given the priority because Bahrain promotes itself as an Islamic and Arab state." Al Muhanadi also objected to the decision of including Russians, saying that the move would promote prostitution.
Shaikh Rashid Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence, Interior Ministry, said in a statement on Wednesday that the move was not to promote prostitution but to enhance business relations with Russia. He said that the walk-in visa was only for citizens from Russian Federation and not other countries that were members of the former Soviet Union.
Shaikh Rashid said that the decision was reviewed carefully and said that most of the 35 countries provided with the services were included in the 1960s and no problem occurred since then.
According to the decision, citizens of countries included in the list would be granted two-week visit visas on arrival at the Bahrain International Airport and King Fahd Causeway, Shaikh Rashid said.
"The move will further develop tourism and ... contribute to the development of Bahrain's economy in general," he said.
Nothing could justify excluding Arabs as they should be given the priority because Bahrain promotes itself as an Islamic and Arab state."
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