Bahrain revokes citizenship of 69 people accused of spying with "hostile parties"

The Kingdom of Bahrain announced on Tuesday the revocation of the citizenship of 69 people, including their families, who were proven to be involved in glorifying Iran's hostilities or spying with hostile external parties.

The decision came in implementation of the directives  of Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, based on the Nationality Law, which criminalizes harming the Kingdom's supreme interests or violating the duty of loyalty to it.

The decision was widely welcomed by the legislative authority, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam, stressed that citizenship is an honor that only those who maintain the security of the homeland deserve.

For his part, the Speaker of the Shura Council, Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh, considered the decision a sovereign right that consolidates the rule of law and protects the authentic Bahraini identity from any breach that targets the cohesion of society, stressing that the interest of the country is above all considerations.

The decision made headlines in Bahraini newspapers, with writers and media professionals asserting that patience with the "sleeper cells" and provocateurs had run out.

The local press described the decision as a "pre-emptive deterrent" to anyone who begs to place foreign loyalties above national sovereignty, considering that citizenship is not just a document, but a covenant and a responsible citizenship that does not accept tampering or employment for hostile agendas.

War against sleeper cells

Bahrain's move comes as part of a broader Arab and Gulf strategy that has succeeded in  conducting 13 pre-emptive security strikes in five Arab countries (the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Syria) over the past 50 days.

These operations led to the dismantling of cells linked to the "armed organizations " and "Hezbollah", reflecting the vigilance of the security services in thwarting the sabotage plans that coincided with severe regional tensions.

In an official statement, Bahrain's Ministry of Interior reiterated its warning that sympathizing with terrorist acts or glorifying those targeting the kingdom's security exposes its owners to strict legal accountability.

The Ministry explained that these measures are part of the efforts to enhance community security and fortify the home front , calling on all components of the people to rally around the leadership and uphold the supreme national interest to ensure the stability of the country.