Mixed results for UK-based Bahraini students

Published in The Muslim News By Elham Asaad Buaras

Bahraini students studying in the UK have had mixed results in getting their scholarships returned after they were revoked earlier as punishment for taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations.

Students funded by the Ministry of Education have had their scholarships restored. However, those whose studies were funded by the University of Bahrain (UoB) face uncertain futures with no indication on when they should expect their scholarships returned.

In March, Bahrain’s Education Ministry suspended 40 scholarships of students studying abroad after some of the students took part in demonstrations.

At the time the Ministry’s PR and Media Director, Dr Nabeel Al Assoomi, said the suspension was aimed at students who had “failed to meet the terms of the scholarships as they committed serious illegal and unconstitutional violations.”

Among those who have had their scholarships reinstated is Muhammed Khalid who welcomed the unconditional return of his scholarship by the Ministry of Education but says no explanation was given as to why it was suspended in the first place.

“Me and a friend have had our money returned,” he told The Muslim News.

Not so lucky is Phd student and former faculty member at the UoB, Fatima Al-Halwachi, who has not only lost her job but faces the prospect of starting the next academic year at Birkbeck College, University of London, with no way of paying mounting expenses and fees.

Speaking to The Muslim News the Applied Linguistics and Communication student said her scholarship revocation “will take effect starting from the next academic year. The University had already paid my expenses for this year they can’t take that back.”

Al-Halwachi says the UoB sent her a “letter in April saying I was in breach of my studies contract not to harm the reputation of Bahrain.”

The mother of two is restricted in the number of hours she can work nor can her husband, who has traveled with her as her dependent, seek employment.

“We’re relying on our friends and relatives and my University [of London] said they might be waving some of my fees next year but that will not cover our expenses.”

According to some sources the UoB has reinstated the scholarships of some students who would signed pledged not to get involved again in “anti-Bahrain activities” however Al-Halwachi says no such offer was made to her.