Faultering Bahrain regime revokes citizenship of 31 nationals in bid to purge democracy leaders

Bahrain revokes citizenship of 31 nationals
7 November, 2012 – Al Akhbar

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry has revoked the citizenship of 31 activists, including two former members of parliament, for “undermining state security”, according to a statement released Tuesday night.

The statement cited a clause within the country’s Citizenship Law that “permits re-evaluation of nationality when a holder of Bahraini citizenship causes damage to state security.”

Former Wefaq party members of parliament Jawad Fairooz and Jalal Fairooz were among the 31 activists, as were Said al-Shihabi head of the Freemen of Bahrain movement, and Ali Hassan Mushaima, the son of the leader of Al-Haq group.

Three Shia clerics, Hussein Mirza, Khaled Mansour Sanad and Alawi Sharaf, were also listed in the statement.

The Ministry adds that those subject to the decision have the right to appeal.

Bahrain has a history of stripping Bahrainis of nationality and forcing them into exile that dates back to the 1980s, when a 1975 parliament dissolution led to widespread government crackdown. Scores have attempted to return since.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights have issued joint statement calling on authorities to reverse the decision, and for the country’s allies to exercise pressures to that end.

“It is apparent that the actions taken by the Bahraini authorities to revoke the citizenships of 31 individuals is intended to punish them for expressing peaceful dissent and thereby intimidate others from exercising their right to freedom of expression,” said the youth groups.

Bahrain opposition activists have endured a bloody crackdown since an uprising against the country’s monarchy began in February 2011.

According to the International Federation for Human Rights, 80 people have died in Bahrain since the start of the violence on February 14 last year.

Bahrain’s interior ministry says more than 700 people, including a number of police officers, have been wounded in the protests since the beginning of 2012. …source