Khaberni - The Bahraini Ministry of Interior announced the withdrawal of nationality from 69 individuals and their families, following their conviction for "expressing sympathy and glorification for the sinful Iranian hostile acts" and communicating with foreign entities.
The ministry explained in a statement published on the "X" platform that the decision includes the aforementioned accused in addition to their families, indicating that the withdrawal of nationality comes "following their conviction of committing acts that endanger national security," based on "the nationality law".
The official statement stated that the defendants expressed "sympathy and glorification for the sinful hostile Iranian acts". The ministry added that these individuals also posted "content that incites instability and threatens public order" on social media platforms, referring to materials showing their support for militia attacks backed by Iran against the kingdom.
This decision comes while the Gulf region is experiencing a period of severe tension due to the raging war between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, which began on February 28 last year. During this conflict, Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, was subjected to direct Iranian retaliatory attacks.
On the first night of the war, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced targeting the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet in the Juffair area of Manama with missiles and drones, resulting in material damage, including the burning of towering buildings and the temporary closure of Bahrain International Airport, in addition to the air defenses intercepting dozens of missiles and drones.
In addition to targeting military installations, Iran targeted vital facilities and civilian infrastructure in the kingdom. The domestic scene in Bahrain witnessed demonstrations demanding a stop to the war, which the government considered "incitement by external elements" and "acts of rioting".
In the aftermath of these events, the authorities launched a wide security campaign, during which they detained dozens of "saboteurs" accused of incitement on the internet, and investigations revealed that some of those arrested had communicated with individuals and entities in Iran during the war. Subsequently, they were charged by the public prosecutor with "opposing the regime", "high treason", and "expressing sympathy with a hostile country".
