Bahrainis’ passports withdrawn for bearing unofficial stamps

Manama, Sep. 20 (BNA): Interior Ministry Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa announced on Tuesday that passports of some Bahrainis had been withdrawn as they arrived in the country since they had the stamps of unauthorised bodies. The passports had therefore lost their official status and could not be used, he said. He advised those who had had their passports withdrawn to contact the NPRA to complete the formalities for the issuance of new passports. He said that a passport was a document for official use and could not be altered or amended, nor could its details be added to or removed for any reason, including stamping or writing by unofficial bodies. He stressed the importance of protecting one’s passport and its contents as any violation could lead to legal action against its holder.