Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Friday ordered authorities to revoke the citizenship of additional individuals following Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting the country between late February and early April. Bahrain and other Arab countries were targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks in response to a military campaign by Israel and the United States against Iran between late February and early April. Days prior, on Monday, Bahrain announced it had stripped 69 people, including families, of their citizenship under Article 10(3) of Bahrain's nationality law. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa stated that Bahrain faced "sinful Iranian aggression" and those who "sold their conscience to the enemy" were exposed. He described the situation as a “sinful Iranian aggression” targeting Bahrain's security, stability, and the safety of its people. The King added that those targeted, along with some family members, were of non-Bahraini origin.
He called on Iran to stop interfering in the internal affairs of Bahrain and other Gulf states. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also expressed anger, criticizing the alignment of some lawmakers with "traitors" and ordered the removal of all those who cooperated with the "Iranian aggression," asserting that citizenship is a covenant. His remarks followed reports that some Shiite lawmakers had opposed legislation related to revoking citizenship from those accused of praising Iranian attacks. He added that people in Gulf Cooperation Council countries strongly support rulings against those who "betrayed the nation." The King stated that citizenship is a covenant, and whoever breaks it forfeits that covenant.
King's Decree and Justification
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa described the situation as "sinful Iranian aggression" targeting Bahrain's security, stability, and the safety of its people. The monarch called on Iran to cease interference in the internal affairs of Bahrain and other Gulf states. King Hamad criticized the alignment of some lawmakers with "traitors" and ordered the removal of all those who cooperated with what he termed the Iranian aggression. He stated that citizenship is a covenant, and whoever breaks it forfeits that covenant. These remarks were reported by the Bahrain News Agency.
Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, speaker of Bahrain’s parliament, expressed support for the king’s remarks. Al Musallam stated, "the parliament does not honor the presence of any member who supports or justifies actions that harm the country and its supreme interests." On March 9, Bahrain’s High Criminal Court held its first session for defendants accused of promoting and praising Iranian hostile terrorist acts.
Legal Basis and Scope
The Bahrain News Agency reported the King's remarks, which followed social media reports indicating that some Shiite lawmakers had opposed legislation related to revoking citizenship from those accused of praising Iranian attacks. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa stated that "people in Gulf Cooperation Council countries strongly support rulings issued against those accused of treason, including imprisonment and citizenship revocation, and even call for more." Bahrain is home to hundreds of thousands of citizens of Iranian descent, known as the Ajam. The Interior Ministry described the citizenship revocations as being due to sympathy with Iran's hostile acts and collaboration with foreign entities. It clarified that Bahraini nationality was revoked for glorifying or sympathizing with hostile Iranian acts, or engaging in contacts with external parties. The revocations were carried out under Article 10(3) of Bahrain's nationality law. Article 10/3 of the Bahraini Nationality Law provides for citizenship revocation in cases of "causing harm to the interests of the Kingdom or acting in a manner that contradicts the duty of loyalty to it." The Interior Ministry affirmed that competent authorities are continuing to study and review who deserves Bahraini citizenship.
Rights Group Condemnation
Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, Advocacy Director at the Britain-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), condemned the citizenship revocations, calling them "the beginning of a dangerous era of repression." Alwadaei added that these measures were "imposed without legal safeguards or any right of appeal."
The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy stated that the recent action marked the first such revocation of citizenship in Bahrain since 2019. According to BIRD, Bahrain had previously revoked the citizenship of at least 990 nationals between 2012 and 2019.
