Bahrain Strips 69 of Citizenship Over Iran Ties and Alleged Support

BAHRAIN — On Monday, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior announced the revocation of citizenship for 69 individuals, accusing them of “sympathising with Iran” and “colluding with foreign entities” amid escalating regional tensions. The directive, issued by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, targeted individuals described as “of non-Bahraini origin,” according to statements verified by multiple primary sources.

The move follows a series of Iranian strikes on Bahraini territory, which Tehran launched in retaliation for attacks by Israel and the United States. Bahrain, a key U.S. Ally in the Gulf, has been a staging ground for American military operations in the region, making it a target in the broader conflict. Iranian officials accused Bahrain and other Gulf states of allowing the U.S. To use their territories to launch strikes against Iran, a claim that has heightened tensions in the region.

Legal Basis and International Condemnation

Under Bahraini law, citizenship can be revoked if an individual is deemed to have caused “harm to the country” or demonstrated “disloyalty.” The Ministry of Interior’s statement, cited in Al Jazeera’s reporting, did not provide specific evidence linking the 69 individuals to the alleged offenses. The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) condemned the decision as a “blatant abuse of power” and a violation of international law.

“This is a dangerous escalation in Bahrain’s use of citizenship revocation as a tool of repression,”

a spokesperson for BIRD told Al Jazeera.

The organization noted that the identities of those stripped of citizenship remain undisclosed, raising concerns about due process. It remains unclear whether the individuals have been arrested, whether they are currently inside or outside Bahrain, or whether they hold alternative nationalities. Human rights groups have long criticized Bahrain for using citizenship revocation as a punitive measure, particularly against political dissidents and activists.

Regional Context: Bahrain in the Crossfire

The citizenship revocations come amid a broader regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. On February 28, 2026, Iran launched a series of strikes against Gulf states, including Bahrain, in response to joint U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iranian targets. Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been a focal point of Iranian retaliation. On April 4, debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck a residential area in Sitra, causing damage but no reported fatalities.

Tehran has framed its attacks as a necessary response to what it describes as “aggression” by the U.S. And Israel. Iranian officials have accused Bahrain and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members of complicity in allowing their territories to be used as launchpads for strikes against Iran. Bahrain, a Sunni-led monarchy with a Shia-majority population, has historically faced internal tensions, and the government has accused Iran of fomenting unrest among its Shia citizens.

Broader Implications for Citizenship as a Political Tool

The revocation of citizenship in Bahrain is part of a growing trend in the Middle East, where governments have increasingly used nationality as a tool to punish dissent or perceived disloyalty. According to DW’s analysis, such measures are often employed to silence opposition without resorting to overt violence. However, the practice has drawn criticism from international human rights organizations, which argue that it violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Article 15, which guarantees the right to a nationality.

In Bahrain, citizenship revocation has been used extensively since the 2011 Arab Spring protests, when the government cracked down on pro-democracy demonstrations. According to human rights groups, hundreds of Bahrainis have been stripped of their citizenship in the past decade, often leaving them stateless. The latest move against 69 individuals appears to be the largest single batch revocation in recent years, signaling an escalation in the government’s approach.

Unanswered Questions and Next Steps

As of Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Bahraini government has not released further details about the 69 individuals, including their names, current whereabouts, or legal status. The lack of transparency has raised concerns among human rights advocates, who fear that the revocations may be used to target political opponents or minority groups without proper legal recourse.

The international community has yet to respond formally to the move. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has previously warned that citizenship revocation can lead to statelessness, a condition that leaves individuals vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. However, Bahrain is not a signatory to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, limiting the legal avenues for those affected.

For now, the revocations serve as a stark reminder of the broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. As the conflict between Iran, Israel, and the U.S. Continues to unfold, Bahrain’s actions underscore the risks faced by smaller Gulf states caught in the crossfire. The use of citizenship as a political weapon raises questions about the long-term stability of the region and the protection of human rights amid escalating hostilities.