Bahrain stripped 69 individuals of their citizenship for allegedly sympathizing with Iran during the ongoing Middle East war.
The Bahraini Interior Ministry announced the revocation via social media. Officials claim the individuals glorified or sympathized with hostile Iranian acts.
The Bahraini Citizenship Act of 1963 grants the government broad powers to revoke citizenship on national security grounds. The law was amended in 2014 to include revocation for actions damaging to the kingdom’s interests.
This recent action is part of a larger pattern. Human rights groups argue that these revocations serve as politically motivated punishment against dissenters. Since 2012, Bahrain has revoked citizenship from at least 990 nationals.
As of April 10, 2026, at least 286 people have been detained since the beginning of the war. These revocations and detentions often coincide with periods of political tension.
Responses to the situation:
- The Bahraini Interior Ministry stated: “The Bahraini nationality has been revoked from those individuals for glorifying or sympathizing with hostile Iranian acts.”
- Sayed Ahmed AlWadaei from the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy commented, “Bahrain is using the regional conflict as a pretext to eliminate dissent and define who is considered Bahraini.”
- He further noted, “In a repressive state, the laws are used to advance the interest of the ruling family.”
The consequences of losing citizenship are severe. Individuals become stateless and lose access to public services. The international community continues to monitor these developments closely.