Discrimination and Favoritism in Bahrain [2005]

8/6/2019 Discrimination and Favoritism in Bahrain [2005]

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Discrimination & FavoritismDiscrimination & Favoritism inin BahrainBahrain

Addressed to the UN committee on the Elimination ofAddressed to the UN committee on the Elimination of

Racial DiscriminationRacial Discrimination

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Presented by: Abdulhadi Al Khawaja

March 2005


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Contents

I. Deterioration in Living ConditionsAffecting Mainly Shi'a Muslims

II. Lands owned by members of Royal FamilyIII. Discrimination in Bahrain: The Unwritten Law

IV. Public posts occupied by members of the

Royal FamilyV. Discrimination in Granting Citizenship in

Bahrain


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based on official figures and studies there are 20,000unemployed Bahrainis, while the oppositions estimate thenumber to be more than 30,000

In addition to their dependents who are affected by theunemployment, the number will exceed 80,000 people

unemployed and their dependents are not receiving anysocial security aids in contradiction with the Constitution

Unemployment


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50%16%14.7%6.6%Percentage

80,00016,000 20,000

14,4004,500Unemployed Citizens

200319911981 2013


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households who are unable to work and those who

receive financial assistance from Ministry of Labour andcharitable contribution from charity funds associationsexceeds 20,000 families, which are around 80,000people whom each receive BD18 per months

Financial assistance


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Avarage increase In the number of families

1984

3830

64847021

10328

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

Year

No.offami

lies


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the poverty level (Poverty Income Threshold) for ahousehold, according to official studies and statements,

is BD309 per month

poverty level


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BD315in 2013 (Projected)

BD352In Year 2002

BD420.IN Year1990

Decrease in the average salaries(source: Ministry of labour/social Insurance/Mackenzie Report)Average Wage for Bahrainis drops by 19%


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Average Wage 1990 - 2013

420352

296

0100

200300400

500

1990 2003 2013

Year

AverageW

age


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Quarter of employed Bahrainis live below thepoverty level of BD309 per month

Conclusion:Total of Bahrainis suffering from poverty andpoor living conditions to around 200,000 people(half of total Bahrainis), they are mainly Shia.

Bahrainis under the poverty level


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Problem of housing in Bahrain

Unemployed citizens and those who are receiving financialassistance cannot receive housing loans granted by theGovernment

44,000 families with a low income are waiting in the waiting listfor Government subsidised housing for up to 12 years or more

official statistics shows that there are 6,000 ruined houses andthat there is a project for rebuilding or maintaining 4,500houses but in a period of 8 years


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There are 5,200 wealthy people in Bahrain.

The average wealth of each of them reaches US$4.2

millions, which is above the international average ofwealthy people of US$3.8 millions.

The private wealth in Bahrain worth around US$20 to 30

billions

Source: Bahrain Monitary Agency

Wealthy people


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poor living conditions of citizens are mainly caused by:

Unequal distribution of wealth Waste of public money Financial & administrative corruption Poor planning

Dumping the market with low wage foreign workers

Causes of Poverty


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Main barrier to economic reforms;

Dominations of a small group of influential powerful

people on the national economy, both in private andpublic sectors.


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Statistics shows that:

Crime rate, especially robbery, have escalated. Divorce rate and number of people choosing to be single

have also increased. Number of women and children participating in theworking force with bad working conditions have increased

social and security impact of poverty


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25556 crimesin year 2001

17381 crimesIn year 1998

18668 CrimesIn year 199719194 CrimesIn year 1994

The Numerical path of thefts( Statistical Guide issued by the Ministry of Interior)


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Contents

I. Poverty and deterioration of Living Conditions

II. Lands owned by members of Royal Family

III. Discrimination in Bahrain: The Unwritten Law

IV. Public posts occupied by members of the RoyalFamily

V. Discrimination in Granting Citizenship inBahrain


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As for the land crisis in the country,

Ministry of Housing is unable with its current resources to

meet the increasing demand on housing units, loans andflats whose numbers are around 40,000 applications,especially in the light of annual increase in applications,which aggregates the problem due to the young nature ofthe community.

The ministry of housing is unable to solve the problem ofHousing in the light of current resources, because it does nothave land to give to people, since 90% of the land isprivately owned.

Nabeel Abdul Fath - Assistant Undersecretary for HousingAl Wasat Newspaper


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Senior Members of the Royal family have taken over

large land areas in Bahrain, especially the reclaimedlands of the sea and the ones that will be reclaimed inthe near future

Large lands are taken by influential

powerful people


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Green areas

Built up areas


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Riffa District


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3

2

1

1 : Al-Mohammadiya Islandowned by Sh. Mohammad bin

Salman (uncle of the king).

2 : Jiddah Island owned by Sh.

Mohammad bin Salman (uncle

of the king).

3 : Umm an Naasan Island

owned by Sh. Hamad the Kingof Bahrain.


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Hawar Islands

Owned by Sh. Hamad the King

of Bahrain.

Owned by Sh. Khalifa bin

Salman (uncle of the king & the

prime minister).


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Owned by the King of Bahrain

and his close family.

Owned by members of the

Royal Family.

Owned by Sh. Khalifa bin

Salman (uncle of the King & theprime minister).


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Contents

I. Poverty and Poor Living Conditions




V. Discrimination in Granting Citizenship in Bahrain


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Women

26%

Men

74%

Bahraini manpower: women vs. men as of 2001


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Allocation of high-ranking posts

man 531

93%

woman43

7%


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47

10

21%

0

510

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

TOTAL The Shiite who are

70% of citizens

Shiites with the rank of Minister


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62 7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Total Shiite

11%

Shiites with the rank of Undersecretary


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High-ranking posts occupied by the Royal Family in Ministry of Interior

(none for Shiites)

30

15

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Total Royal Family


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High-ranking posts occupied by the Royal Family in Ministry of Defence

(none for Shiites)

TotalRoyal

Family

28

70

5

10

15

20

25

30


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Contents




IV. Public posts occupied by members of the

Royal Family

V. Discrimination in Granting Citizenship inBahrain


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Contents





V. Discrimination in Granting Citizenship in

Bahrain


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Documentary Film:

Political Naturalization in Bahrain


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Documents

Discrimination and Favoritism in Bahrain [2005]