Bahrain to form panel to review naturalisation

The Bahraini parliament ended the first term of its four-year mandate yesterday with seven MPs announcing the forming of an independent bloc, aimed to avoid future conflicts between the elected lawmakers and the government.

Before it adjourned for the summer, the House of Deputies also approved the establishment of an investigation committee to review the controversial issue of naturalisation.

The house was elected last October for the first time since 1975 when the parliament was dissolved by the late Emir, Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. The restoration of the parliament was part of the democratic reforms initiated by His Majesty King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in 1999.

At the end of yesterday's session, seven MPs announced they have formed the new parliamentary bloc, called the Independents' Bloc.

"We are independent in the sense that we are not restricted by any political or religious ideology," the group's chief, MP Abdul Aziz Al Moussa said. "We aim to honestly represent ordinary citizens in this legislative institution."

He said the group membership was open to other MPs who believe in the same objectives.

"Our group's main objective is to enhance the parliament's work as a monitoring and legislative power that touches the real problem of Bahrainis according to the mechanism offered by the constitution," the group's spokesman, MP Abdullah Al Dossary said.

"We believe the people are the source of all power and the parliament should reflect that without being influenced by any ideology or self-serving agendas," group member, MP Yousif Al Harmi said.

He said the group was "willing to cooperate with other groups in the house to get things done in coordination, and not in conformation, with the executive branch".

The Independents' Block, he added, will try to avoid any conflict with the government.

However, a committee set up by the house yesterday to investigate the controversial issue of citizenship may prove to be a recipe for a conflict with the government when the parliament comes back from its summer recess in October.

A senior official told the parliament last month that slightly over a dozen thousands have been granted the citizenship in the past two decades. The committee's five members, including the outspoken Abdul Nabi Salman, will review government rules under which naturalised citizens had gotten the citizenship.