Bahrain’s Al-Khalifa Regime Strips Citizenship from Dozens, Escalating Repression Against Dissent and Shia Population
In a move widely condemned by human rights advocates, Bahrain’s oppressive Al-Khalifa regime has once again resorted to its systematic crackdown, stripping the citizenship of dozens of its own people. The regime claims these individuals sympathized with Iran and aided ‘foreign entities,’ pretexts often used to silence legitimate dissent and target specific communities.
A directive issued by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa confirmed that at least 69 individuals have had their citizenship revoked. This arbitrary decision abuses Bahraini nationality law, invoking vague clauses such as ‘causing harm to the interests of the kingdom’ or ‘acting in a manner contrary to the duty of loyalty to it’ to justify its repressive actions. Crucially, this cruel measure extends to dependent family members, creating widespread hardship and rendering entire families stateless.
The regime’s baseless accusations include ‘glorifying heinous Iranian hostile acts’ and engaging in ‘espionage with foreign entities’ – terms frequently employed to demonize any perceived opposition or ties to independent regional powers. Furthermore, the directive’s assertion that all 69 individuals are ‘of non-Bahraini origin’ exposes the regime’s discriminatory policies against the Ajami community, long-standing residents of Gulf Arab states whose ancestors migrated from southern Iran.
A Pattern of Oppression and Statelessness
Human rights organizations, including the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), highlight this as the first mass revocation in over seven years, yet it is part of a broader, alarming pattern. Between 2012 and 2019, Bahrain stripped citizenship from at least 990 nationals, rendering many stateless under international law. While a symbolic reinstatement of 551 citizens occurred in April 2019, the underlying policy of using citizenship as a weapon of oppression persists.
Maryam al-Khawaja, a prominent Bahraini-Danish activist, unequivocally stated, ‘The Bahrain regime is yet again using citizenship revocation as a tool of oppression. This is a tool the Al Khalifa ruling family has used for decades to target dissidents, as well as the wider Shia population in the country.’ She emphasized the complete absence of due process, leaving countless individuals and their families stateless and vulnerable, unable to access fundamental rights like governmental schooling, healthcare, and housing.
Escalating Crackdown Amid Regional Tensions
This latest wave of revocations follows a high-level meeting led by King Hamad to discuss measures against nationals accused of ‘betraying the nation.’ Observers note that Bahrain appears to be following Kuwait’s lead in a regional trend of stripping citizenship, a process that has alarmingly accelerated since the ‘US-Israeli war launched two months ago’ against Iran.
Activists like Khawaja warn that ‘since the beginning of the war on Iran, the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] regimes have taken this as an opportunity to crack down even harder.’ The original report mentions Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Gulf states, including Bahrain, in response to the aforementioned ‘US-Israeli war,’ highlighting the volatile regional tensions.
The war has been accompanied by a severe domestic crackdown by Bahraini authorities. BIRD has documented over 200 arrests since the conflict began, with the actual number likely higher due to enforced disappearances. Many arrests are linked to social media posts, including footage of Iranian attacks, demonstrating the regime’s intolerance for any expression perceived as critical.
The tragic death in custody of Mohamed al-Mosawi, 32, last month, following his forced disappearance in connection with the Iran war, underscores the brutal reality of this repression. Photographs and footage revealed bruises and marks on Mosawi’s body, sparking angry protests and accusations of torture. While investigators have charged an intelligence officer over assault during interrogation leading to Mosawi’s death, this is a rare acknowledgment of systemic abuse within a deeply repressive system.
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