Bahrain Mirror: The Foreign Affairs, Defense and National Security Committee is studying a bill referred by the government, which includes introducing and preparing the facilitation of the movement of foreigners residing in Bahrain, whether by identity card or any other means that may arise in the future.

The new bill allows the Minister of Interior to designate the appropriate means for permission to enter the Kingdom, whether through the passport officer as the case is currently, or through electronic gates, or any other electronic means that may arise in the future.

The law aims at enhancing security and the combat of crime, as well as facilitating the process of identifying people, and detaining those against whom sentences or decisions of deportation have been issued, locally or internationally, at the entrances to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The law also aims, according to the government memorandum, to support international security cooperation and facilitate the transit of travelers, whether departing or arriving in the Kingdom of Bahrain, through the electronic gates at Bahrain International Airport in a manner that allows keeping pace with any developments that may arise in the future.

The draft law also stipulates that "it is not permissible to leave or return to the Kingdom of Bahrain except from the places designated for this, using a passport or any other document that takes its place, or an identity card issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Minister of Interior may, by his decision, specify other means for leaving or returning to the Kingdom of Bahrain."

It further stipulates that the Minister of Interior issues a decision specifying the places designated for entering and leaving the Kingdom of Bahrain.

For its part, the Legislative and Legal Opinion Commission said in its memorandum to the House of Representatives that it received a letter from the head of the Prime Minister's Office, the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, requesting the preparation of the necessary legal tool to refer bills amending the provisions of Law No. (11) of 1975 regarding passports to the legislative authority, pursuant to constitutional procedures, after coordination with those concerned at the Ministry of Interior and the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs.

The Commission stressed that the justifications for the bill include enhancing security, combating crime, facilitating the identification process of people, detaining deportees locally and internationally at ports, and supporting international security cooperation, as well as facilitating the transit movement of departing and arriving travelers to the Kingdom of Bahrain through electronic gates at Bahrain Airport in a manner that allows keeping pace with any developments that may arise in the future, and allows facilitating the movement of foreigners residing in the Kingdom, whether by identity card or any other means that may arise in the future.

Arabic Version