A NATIONAL petition against naturalisation was launched by six opposition political societies last night. The petition is the second after another sent by mail last year was rejected by the Royal Court, which ordered the societies to present it through proper parliamentary channels.

However, the societies - Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, Islamic Action Society, National Democratic Action Society, Al Ekha (Brotherhood) Society, National Democratic Grouping Society and Al Menbar Tribunal Democratic Progressive Society - have no plans to send the new petition to the Royal Court.

Instead, they plan to launch it on a small scale at their societies' premises and branches, before delivering it to people's homes for signature.

National Democratic Action Society secretary-general Ibrahim Sharif said that they were not looking for numbers, but to raise awareness over the issue.

"Our aim is not just to get as many people as possible to sign the petition but to raise awareness that with naturalisation going on the standard of living is going down."

Al Menbar Tribunal Democratic Progressive Society deputy secretary-general and former MP Abdulnabi Salman said:

"The petition will be submitted to organisations which that we feel will support our case." Al Wefaq bloc president MP Shaikh Ali Salman said that his society would be pushing to end naturalisation whether in parliament or through the street. "The petition will not just be in societies' premises and branches but would be expanded to reach mosques, ma'tams and even majlises."