Bahrain has stripped the citizenship of dozens of individuals and their relatives who expressed sympathy and praised Iran’s attacks on the Gulf state during the recent escalation in conflict, Manama’s Interior Ministry confirmed in a Monday X/Twitter post.
A total of 69 people were stripped of their citizenship, the ministry added.
All of the people are of “non-Bahraini origin,” authorities said.
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued a royal decree, instructing Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad to revoke the citizenship under Article 10/3 of the Bahraini Nationality Law.
The article stipulates that citizenship can be revoked “in the event of causing harm to the interests of the Kingdom or acting in a manner contrary to the duty of loyalty to it,” as well as a recommendation of the interior ministry to the cabinet.
Meanwhile, the Bahrain Defense Force’s General Command confirmed that “all its weapons and units are at the highest levels of readiness and defensive preparedness,” the official news agency BNA cited on Monday.
Additionally, it told Bahrainis to “exercise caution and not to approach or touch any strange or suspicious objects that may be remnants of the heinous Iranian attack.”
Bahrain’s population is approximately 45% Shi’ite. “Iranian sleeper cells in the Gulf belong to several nationalities, including Arab and Asian nationalities, as well as Sh’ite citizens of the Gulf,” a military source told The Media Line in March.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani delivered a sharp rebuke of Iran at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday, warning that Tehran’s actions threaten global economic stability, especially through risks to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing the council, Zayani praised international efforts to maintain stability but pointed to what he described as escalating Iranian aggression, including attacks on Gulf states and Jordan using ballistic missiles and drones targeting “civilian infrastructure and vital facilities.”
He highlighted a resolution recently submitted to the council by Bahrain meant to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, and said he hopes for a council vote on Friday. If passed, the resolution would authorize “all necessary means” to protect commercial shipping in and around the strait.
Tobias Siegal, Reuters, and Ali Hussain/The Media Line contributed to this report.
Source:
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