Indian churches in Bahrain face eviction notice

     Dubai, Nov 27: A group of Indian churches in Bahrain are facing eviction unless they prove their legal status, with 10 churches being given two weeks time to furnish documents stating they have been given permission to operate.

     Manama Municipal Councillor Abdulmajeed Al Sebea'a claimed at least seven churches in Segaiya don't have a licence from the Manama Municipality, the Social Development Ministry or the Justice and Islamic Affairs Ministry.

     Indian Ambassador to Bahrain Balkrishna Shetty has called a meeting of the churches to study the issue in detail, Gulf Daily News reported.

     Shetty said he wanted to know whether the main issue relates to parking problems that the churches are causing, or if it was simply that they are not registered.

     "I have to study the issue in detail before taking it up with the authorities concerned. We are grateful to the government, which has given the freedom of worship to all religions in this country," he was quoted as saying by the paper.

     In a letter to the Indian Ambassador, representatives of six churches requested him to take up the issue on an urgent basis.

     Some of the churches have applied for registration that would legalise their existence, but are still waiting for a response, said Sharon Fellowship Church president Pastor P C Varghese.

     Besides the Sharon Fellowship Church, the letter is signed by representatives of the Church of Philadelphia, Church of South India (CSI), IPC Immanuel, St Paul's Mar Thoma Church and the Church of God.

     Out of the 10 churches, half of them are understood to have registered with the Social Development Ministry.

     Bureau Report

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