An Indian woman, who is living in Bahrain for the past 22 years, has sought the authorities' help to legalise her status under the amnesty scheme.
DUBAI: An Indian woman, who is living in Bahrain for the past 22 years, has sought the authorities' help to legalise her status under the amnesty scheme.
Kunhipurayil Ayisha, 63, came to Bahrain in 1985 to work as a housemaid for a local family, but got married to her Bahraini sponsor after a year.
"I came to Bahrain to work as a housemaid 22 years ago and after a year, my Bahraini sponsor proposed marriage and we got married legally in a mosque. But unfortunately my husband passed away after 13 years of marriage," Ayisha said.
Ayisha said she never applied for a Bahraini passport.
"I thought I wouldn't need one, but when I checked with the immigration after my husband's death, they said I should have valid passport and residence permit to apply for the Bahraini passport," she said.
"I brought my two daughters, Waheeda and Rasheeda from my earlier marriage, who were living in Kerala, to live with me," she said.
Ayisha was getting a pension of BD50 per month following her husband's death, but had not received it for the last five months. She said pension officials told her she was no longer entitled to it, since she was not a legal resident.
"I am interested in applying for a Bahraini passport, but, as my Indian passport has expired long ago, I am not able to apply for one," she said.
Ayisha said she and her daughters and grandchildren desperately want Bahraini nationality, so that they can stay in what has become their home - but need Indian passports and valid visas before they can apply.
An Indian Embassy official said he was aware of the case and the embassy was working on the renewal of their Indian passports.
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