Comments on: Reflections on Patriotism http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/ An Arab man's attempt at bridging the cultural gap and trying to make a difference. Failing a lot. Succeeding once in a while. Thu, 24 May 2012 09:01:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mahmood’s Den · Very quickly http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-36555 Mahmood’s Den · Very quickly Sun, 03 Sep 2006 05:42:41 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-36555 [...] Over the last few days three things were brought to the fore in the local press after people continued to point fingers and talk about the situations in their majlises etc: one thing that has been talked about for years in Bahrain is the issue of naturalization, which is a very emotive subject with the opposition (read the majority of Bahrain) believing that the process is adopted purely to strengthen the hand of government by bringing in new naturalized citizens and use them to skew the electoral outcome and change the country’s demographic; the government on the other hand say that there are no such motives and they are granting citizenship only to those who qualify. [...] [...] Over the last few days three things were brought to the fore in the local press after people continued to point fingers and talk about the situations in their majlises etc: one thing that has been talked about for years in Bahrain is the issue of naturalization, which is a very emotive subject with the opposition (read the majority of Bahrain) believing that the process is adopted purely to strengthen the hand of government by bringing in new naturalized citizens and use them to skew the electoral outcome and change the country’s demographic; the government on the other hand say that there are no such motives and they are granting citizenship only to those who qualify. [...]

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]]> By: Desert Island Boy http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-35540 Desert Island Boy Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:31:13 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-35540 Perhaps PT is confusing requirements for citizenship eligibility with actual citizenship? I'm not certain, but it just sounds like the eligibility requirements. On the other hand, if their average education level is hardly past primary school, then they could be given Siberian citizienship and they wouldn't know the difference. Additionally, if the star of the show resorted to the purported action, then it's rather doubtful that the use of the judicial system would have crossed their minds, much less any respect for it! Perhaps PT is confusing requirements for citizenship eligibility with actual citizenship? I’m not certain, but it just sounds like the eligibility requirements.

On the other hand, if their average education level is hardly past primary school, then they could be given Siberian citizienship and they wouldn’t know the difference.

Additionally, if the star of the show resorted to the purported action, then it’s rather doubtful that the use of the judicial system would have crossed their minds, much less any respect for it!

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]]> By: mahmood http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-35537 mahmood Fri, 25 Aug 2006 10:33:38 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-35537 I'll look it up, it should be readily available.. but in Arabic. I’ll look it up, it should be readily available.. but in Arabic.

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]]> By: derwi http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-35527 derwi Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:23:45 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-35527 It would probably be worth checking the electoral law in detail. Some countries mandate a certain peridode before a new national can vote. Were the government indeed trying to shift the Sunni / Shia balance such a regulation wouldn't make sense, obviously... Anyways, I've searched the internet for an online version of the electoral law, but to no avail. Do you, Mahmood, or anyone else know of a link? It would probably be worth checking the electoral law in detail. Some countries mandate a certain peridode before a new national can vote. Were the government indeed trying to shift the Sunni / Shia balance such a regulation wouldn’t make sense, obviously… Anyways, I’ve searched the internet for an online version of the electoral law, but to no avail. Do you, Mahmood, or anyone else know of a link?

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]]> By: mahmood http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-35519 mahmood Fri, 25 Aug 2006 05:24:07 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-35519 And the contentious e-Voting, and we have it made! And the contentious e-Voting, and we have it made!

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]]> By: Anonymous http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-35510 Anonymous Fri, 25 Aug 2006 02:23:23 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-35510 What about the thousands being given the citizenship lately? i have been reading about it on some blogs.... goverment getting ready for the elections eh mahmood? What about the thousands being given the citizenship lately? i have been reading about it on some blogs…. goverment getting ready for the elections eh mahmood?

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]]> By: mahmood http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-35485 mahmood Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:12:45 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-35485 PT I don't believe that. Doing that would be completely unconstitutional. Bahraini citizenship now does not have <i>any</i> classification. Once a Bahraini, then you enjoy all the rights and privileges from day 1. It used to be that it is written in the passport that you are Bahraini by birth, or according to the 5th paragraph, or 6a or by marriage or because you owned a nice camel that the Shaikh liked. Now, the constitution states that all Bahraini citizens are equal without prejudice. So if the government does indeed grant them this abridged form of citizenship, then it is unconstitutional and any one of these 'New' Bahrainis can take them to court and win a full citizenship. PT I don’t believe that. Doing that would be completely unconstitutional. Bahraini citizenship now does not have any classification. Once a Bahraini, then you enjoy all the rights and privileges from day 1.

It used to be that it is written in the passport that you are Bahraini by birth, or according to the 5th paragraph, or 6a or by marriage or because you owned a nice camel that the Shaikh liked.

Now, the constitution states that all Bahraini citizens are equal without prejudice.

So if the government does indeed grant them this abridged form of citizenship, then it is unconstitutional and any one of these ‘New’ Bahrainis can take them to court and win a full citizenship.

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]]> By: Anonymous http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-35484 Anonymous Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:06:55 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-35484 Lujayn, They are given a very specific type of citizenship, yes its a Bahraini passport, but if they wanted to travel anywhere else in the world they would require a visa, including all Gulf countries. This is not the case for Bahrainis Arabs who can travel without visas in the Gulf. Also, the foreign 'Bahraini' police may not own property here nor can they vote. Only when they have been resident in Bahrain for a specific amount of time, 15 years for non Gulf Arabs and 20 or 25 for Asians and others can they apply for full citizenship, and even then, it's not given that they'll get it. PT Lujayn, They are given a very specific type of citizenship, yes its a Bahraini passport, but if they wanted to travel anywhere else in the world they would require a visa, including all Gulf countries. This is not the case for Bahrainis Arabs who can travel without visas in the Gulf.
Also, the foreign ‘Bahraini’ police may not own property here nor can they vote. Only when they have been resident in Bahrain for a specific amount of time, 15 years for non Gulf Arabs and 20 or 25 for Asians and others can they apply for full citizenship, and even then, it’s not given that they’ll get it.
PT

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]]> By: mahmood http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-35483 mahmood Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:03:18 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-35483 Yes, the vast majority do as I understand it. It goes like this: Almost none have education past the 6th primary level. I have no idea what the recruitment interview is like, but when selected, the local lore goes that they get on a plane, they arrive completely bewildered and dazed, they disembark and a the welcoming committee provides them with all they need: a clothing stack containing underwear, vests, uniform, amunition belt, gun, toothpaste and toothbrush which they dutifully demonstrate the use of (the mouth hygene part, rather than the shooting part, they're already presumably proficient in that art) as well as a towel and atop the towel is a brand new Bahriani passport. Oh, and a house or housing. I have no idea if that is true, but this is what my fellow locals tell me. Yet, if you read the piece <a href="http://mahmood.tv/pages/SaidiDefendingMercenaries.jpg" rel="nofollow">I linked to</a> above, you will see that some of these people are <i>still</i> regarded by their mother countries as its citizens and still demands their military service and payment of taxes. Something that an esteamed MP has taken ubrage at and has created a ruckus for the Ministry of Foreigh Affairs to take very seriously and support these brand new Bahraini citizens. Yes, the vast majority do as I understand it.

It goes like this: Almost none have education past the 6th primary level. I have no idea what the recruitment interview is like, but when selected, the local lore goes that they get on a plane, they arrive completely bewildered and dazed, they disembark and a the welcoming committee provides them with all they need: a clothing stack containing underwear, vests, uniform, amunition belt, gun, toothpaste and toothbrush which they dutifully demonstrate the use of (the mouth hygene part, rather than the shooting part, they’re already presumably proficient in that art) as well as a towel and atop the towel is a brand new Bahriani passport. Oh, and a house or housing.

I have no idea if that is true, but this is what my fellow locals tell me.

Yet, if you read the piece I linked to above, you will see that some of these people are still regarded by their mother countries as its citizens and still demands their military service and payment of taxes. Something that an esteamed MP has taken ubrage at and has created a ruckus for the Ministry of Foreigh Affairs to take very seriously and support these brand new Bahraini citizens.

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]]> By: Lujayn http://mahmood.tv/2006/08/23/reflections-on-patriotism/comment-page-1/#comment-35466 Lujayn Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:07:47 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/?p=2717#comment-35466 Mahmood, question: Do these officers/policemen that are from Pakistan, India, Yemen, Syria, and Jordan have Bahraini citizenship? Trying to understand the issue. Mahmood, question:

Do these officers/policemen that are from Pakistan, India, Yemen, Syria, and Jordan have Bahraini citizenship? Trying to understand the issue.

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