Bahrain has stripped 69 individuals of their citizenship for allegedly sympathizing with Iran, escalating the government’s crackdown on dissent amid the ongoing Middle East war.
The Bahraini Interior Ministry announced the revocations via social media, citing that the nationality was revoked for glorifying or sympathizing with hostile Iranian acts. This action is part of a broader trend where citizenship revocations tend to spike during periods of political tension.
The Bahraini Citizenship Act grants the government broad powers to revoke citizenship on national security grounds. Amendments made in 2014 expanded these powers, allowing for revocation if individuals cause damage to the interests of the kingdom.
Human rights groups view these measures as politically motivated punishments aimed at suppressing dissent. Critics argue that Bahrain is using the regional conflict as a pretext to define who is considered Bahraini, thereby marginalizing certain groups, particularly Shia Muslims.
Key statistics:
- At least 990 nationals had their citizenship revoked between 2012 and 2019.
- As of April 10, 2026, at least 286 people have been detained since the beginning of the war.
- The latest round of revocations includes 69 individuals.
Sayed Ahmed AlWadaei from the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy stated that in a repressive state, laws are manipulated to serve the interests of those in power. He emphasized that the government decides what the rule of law entails, often disregarding justice.
The consequences of losing citizenship are severe; individuals become stateless and lose access to public services. Many learn about their citizenship loss through official announcements or social media posts, leaving them with little recourse.
Bahrain’s actions have drawn international scrutiny as they raise significant human rights concerns. The global community continues to monitor how such legal measures impact political dissent and civil liberties within the kingdom.
