Bahrain Revokes Citizenship of 69 People and Their Families for ‘Expressing Support for Iranian Attacks’
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Gulf Security
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of 69 individuals and their families after they were found to have “expressed sympathy and praise for Iran’s hostile and criminal acts” and engaged in contacts with foreign entities, the Bahraini Interior Ministry announced on Sunday .
The decision, issued under royal directives from King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, marks a significant escalation in the state’s security response to the ongoing regional war .
The Announcement: Citizenship Revoked for ‘Loyalty Violations’
In a statement carried by the state-run Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the Interior Ministry said the affected individuals were of “non-Bahraini origin” and had their nationality stripped for violating their “duty of loyalty” to the Kingdom .
“The Bahraini nationality has been revoked from those individuals for glorifying or sympathising with the hostile Iranian acts, or engaging in contacts with external parties,” the ministry said .
The ministry added that the competent authorities were “continuing to study and review” who deserves Bahraini citizenship, suggesting further revocations could follow .
Legal Basis: Article 10/3 of the Bahraini Nationality Law
The revocations were carried out under Article 10/3 of the Bahraini Nationality Law, which provides for the stripping of citizenship 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 application of this law has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who argue it can be used to suppress dissent and leaves individuals stateless. Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, Advocacy Director at the Britain-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), condemned the move, calling it “the beginning of a dangerous era of repression” and stating that the decisions were “imposed without legal safeguards or any right of appeal” .
BIRD noted that this is the first such mass revocation of citizenship in Bahrain since 2019. Between 2012 and 2019, Bahrain revoked the citizenship of at least 990 nationals, according to the group .
Royal Directive: ‘The Situation Is Still Delicate’
The mass revocation follows a royal directive issued just days earlier. On April 19, King Hamad ordered authorities to review the citizenship status of individuals deemed a threat to national security, instructing immediate action against those accused of “betraying the nation or undermining its security and stability” .
“The situation is still delicate,” the king was quoted as saying at the time .
That directive signaled a tightening of internal security policies amid the regional conflict. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and has previously reported missile and drone incidents during recent regional escalations .
‘Citizenship as a Weapon’: Human Rights Concerns
Deutsche Welle (DW) has reported that Gulf states are increasingly deploying citizenship revocation as a tool during the Iran war, a practice critics describe as “weaponizing citizenship” .
Bahrain’s position is particularly complex demographically and politically. The country is a Sunni-ruled monarchy, but estimates suggest the majority of the population—just over 50%—is Shiite. Iran is a Shiite theocracy, creating a sectarian dynamic that has historically fueled domestic tensions .
Jawad Fairooz, a former Bahraini parliamentarian who had his citizenship revoked in 2012 and now runs Salam for Democracy and Human Rights from the UK, told DW he fears the current crackdown will mirror the mass revocations of the post-Arab Spring era .
“There is a regular rounding up of minorities accused of collaborating with Iran,” another Bahraini, who lives in the US but whose family remains in Bahrain, told DW on condition of anonymity. “That’s confirmed in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait but it’s likely across the board. These dynamics affect a whole range of different communities — so not only Shia minorities but also citizens of Persian descent, including Sunnis” .
Security Crackdown: Arrests and Social Media Monitoring
The citizenship revocations are part of a broader security crackdown during the ongoing conflict.
- Dozens arrested: Authorities arrested dozens accused of posting content on social media that incited instability and threatened public order .
- Pro-Iran demonstrations: During early stages of the conflict, Bahrain witnessed demonstrations that authorities linked to external influence .
- Treason charges: Some individuals have reportedly been charged with offenses including misuse of social media, incitement of hatred, and treason — a charge that can carry the death penalty under Bahraini law .
Officials launched a broader crackdown on dissent, arresting protesters and individuals linked to pro-Iran demonstrations . Authorities also imposed tight controls on information related to Iranian strikes, detaining residents and foreign nationals accused of filming or sharing footage .
Regional Precedent: Citizenship as a Control Mechanism
Bahrain is not alone in using citizenship revocation as a security tool. According to Thomas McGee, an expert on the Middle East at the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion, Gulf states are using the Iran war as justification to “intensify existing citizenship and nationality controls” .
“What we are seeing now is a number of Gulf states potentially using the Iran war as justification to intensify existing citizenship and nationality controls, rather than inventing the practice from scratch,” McGee told DW .
Other Gulf countries, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, have legal provisions allowing courts to revoke citizenship for certain crimes .
Key Facts at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Number affected | 69 individuals plus their families |
| Reported citizenship status | Of “non-Bahraini origin” |
| Reason given | “Expressed sympathy and praise for Iran’s hostile acts” and engaged in “contacts with external parties” |
| Legal basis | Article 10/3 of the Bahraini Nationality Law |
| Authorizing authority | Royal directives from King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
| Date announced | April 26-27, 2026 |
| Broader context | Part of security crackdown during the Iran war |
| Human rights response | BIRD condemned as “beginning of a dangerous era of repression” |
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