Bahrain strips citizenship from dozens over ties to Iran

Individuals who praised Iran’s attacks on the Gulf kingdom lost their status as citizens, the Bahraini Foreign Ministry said.

By World Israel News Staff

Bahrain has announced the revocation of citizenship for 69 individuals, citing alleged support for and ties to the Iranian regime amid escalating regional tensions.

Following the outbreak of Operation Epic Fury in late February, Bahrain became a frequent target of Iranian attacks. Tehran launched heavy barrages of missiles and drones at U.S. bases located on Bahraini territory, as well as civilian sites and key energy infrastructure.

In a statement released Monday, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said the decision targeted individuals holding Bahraini citizenship who had expressed support for Iran’s actions. The ministry noted that all of those who lost their nationality are not of Bahraini ethnic origin.

“The Bahraini nationality has been revoked from those individuals for glorifying or sympathizing with the hostile Iranian acts, or engaging in contacts with external parties,” the statement said.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency reported that Bahraini law grants authorities the power to revoke citizenship in cases where individuals are deemed to have harmed national interests or acted in a manner inconsistent with loyalty to the kingdom.

According to Arab News, officials indicated that authorities will continue reviewing who is deemed “worthy” of holding Bahraini nationality.

Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, advocacy director at the U.K.-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, criticized the decision in comments to Reuters.

Alwadaei described the revocations as “the beginning of a dangerous era of repression,” arguing they were imposed without legal safeguards or any meaningful right of appeal.

Bahrain’s ruling family is Sunni Muslim, while Iran is predominantly Shiite. Within Bahrain itself, roughly half of the population is Shiite, a demographic reality that has long fueled political and sectarian tensions.

A Bahraini expatriate, speaking anonymously to Deutsche Welle, said there have been arrests of citizens perceived as siding with Iran.

The source added that individuals of Persian or mixed Arab-Persian descent are increasingly being associated with Iran, regardless of their actual political views.