The Naturalization Group in Al Wefaq National Islamic Society said the mass political naturalization in Bahrain is costing the state more than 20 percent of its budget. Addressing the consequences of this harmful project represents a preliminary solution to overcome the economic failure and prevent the country from deterioration in living standards and bankruptcy resulting from  Government’s policies, the Group noted.

The financial cost of mass naturalization is estimated to have reached hundreds of millions per year, jeopardizing the economy and the citizens’ living standards. “These huge funds can be used for the benefit of the country and its citizens instead of putting more pressure and risk on their future”, the Group said. Bahrainis are seeing catastrophic shocks on the hands of the Government which is heading to cover its budget deficit and failures, arising from its unilateral management of national wealth and funds, from the incomes of the citizens.

The Group highlighted that official statistics show that the numbers of registered citizens bounced 20 percent over the number of the indigenous people in Bahrain. This prevailed although the Government continues to hide the actual number of naturalized foreigners.

“Bahrain is experiencing a risky economic situation due to the Government’s lack of transparency and sound vision and the mass naturalization is doubling the size of this risk through its heavy effects on the economic, social and security situation”, the Group added.

Anticipations say Bahrain is expecting difficult economic times with a sharp deterioration, this represents a real opportunity to address this issue that is tiring the country. While at the meantime, the Government is attempting to escape its failure by increasing prices in the face of low-pay citizens.

“This is a call to every loyal and rational people in Bahrain to bring the mass naturalization to an end, as well as the waste of public funds in aim of political victory over all the indigenous factions, both Sunni and Shia, in Bahrain. This plan aims to change the demography and identity of Bahraini society and and threatens its present and future on all levels”, said the Group, noting that this is a common concern among all factions in Bahrain.