Bahrain Strips 69 Citizens for Alleged Support of Iranian Government

Bahrain Revokes Citizenship of 69 Individuals Accused of Supporting Iranian Attacks

The Bahrain Ministry of Interior announced on Monday that it had revoked the citizenship of 69 individuals, citing allegations of sympathizing with Iran and colluding with foreign entities. The move comes after Tehran carried out strikes on facilities in Bahrain as part of a conflict launched against Iran by Israel and the United States.

According to the directive issued by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, all 69 individuals are of non-Bahraini origin. Under Bahraini law, citizenship can be revoked if an individual is deemed to have caused harm to the country or shown disloyalty.

Rights groups have expressed concern over the move, with the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy describing it as “dangerous” and a clear violation of international law. The organization has stated that the individuals involved had not been publicly identified, leaving unclear whether they were arrested, inside or outside Bahrain, or held another nationality.

The conflict between Iran and its Gulf neighbors began on February 28, following Israel and the United States’ launch of attacks on Iran. Tehran accused targeted countries of allowing US strikes from their territory, leading to retaliatory attacks that caused significant damage to US military sites in the region. A ceasefire was brokered by Pakistan on April 9, but negotiations for a permanent resolution are ongoing.

The move has sparked concerns among Bahrain’s Shia population, who have long accused authorities of marginalizing them. The government has historically blamed Iran for fomenting unrest against it.

Source: Al Jazeera