AI Condemns Bahraini Decision to Strip of Nationality: Frightening, Chilling Step

Local Editor

Amnesty International condemned Wednesday the Bahraini authorities decision to strip 31 opposition figures of their Bahraini nationality.

In parallel, the international human rights body described the move as "frightening and chilling".

A Ministry of Interior statement indicated that the group, including politicians, activists and religious figures, had their nationality revoked because they had caused "damage to state security".
According to the AI, "The ruling means that those members of the group who only held Bahraini nationality are now stateless."
"The authorities have provided the vaguest of reasons for the deprivation of nationality, which appears to have been taken on the basis of the victims' political views," said Philip Luther, AI's director for the Middle East and North Africa.

He further warned that this step "as well as any arbitrary deprivation of nationality, is prohibited under international law."
"We urgently call on the Bahraini authorities to rescind this frightening and chilling decision," Luther said.

It is worth mentioning that the Bahraini Interior Ministry statement referred to Bahrain's Citizenship Law, which "permits the revocation of nationality" by order of the King if a citizen "causes damage to state security".

Among the 31 people sentenced are Jawad and Jalal Fairouz, who were previously arrested for participating in anti-government protests in 2011, and Ali Hassan Mshaima - the son of opposition activist and prisoner of conscience Hassan Mshaima.

Source: AI, Edited by moqawama.org