Bahrain revokes citizenship of 31 Shiite activists

Bahraini authorities have revoked the citizenship of 31 Shiite activists, among them two former parliamentarians, for having "undermined state security," state news agency BNA reported on Wednesday. The names of the 31, including brothers Jawad and Jalal Fairuz, both ex-MPs who represented the major Shiite Al-Wefaq bloc, were listed in the report, which quoted an interior ministry statement. Among them was Ali Mashaima, son of prominent activist Hassan Mashaima who heads the radical Shiite opposition movement Haq and who is serving a life sentence for allegedly plotting against the monarchy. Amnesty International called the decision "frightening and chilling," urging Bahrain to rescind the ruling. The government move comes after Bahrain late last month banned all protests and gatherings to ensure "security is maintained," after clashes between Shiite-led demonstrators and security forces in the Sunni-ruled country. Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet and strategically situated across the Gulf from Shiite Iran, has experienced unrest since February 14 last year when Arab Spring-style protests led by the Shiite majority erupted. Hundreds of people were arrested when security forces aided by troops from neighbouring Saudi Arabia crushed the uprising within a month. Five Bahraini opposition groups, including Shiite main formation Al-Wefaq, called the decision a "flagrant violation of human rights, and a clear breach of international law and norms." "This measure is part and parcel of the punishment inflicted on the political opposition and its supporters," they said in a statement. According to the International Federation for Human Rights, 80 people have died in Bahrain since the unrest began. Many activists, some named on Wednesday's list, were tried in a special military court set up at the time. Another former MP and leading Al-Wefaq member, Matar Matar, told AFP some named on the list were acquitted by the military court while others were never charged with "undermining state security." Other opposition sources said some are currently living abroad. "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, Amnesty's director for the Middle East and North Africa. "Most worryingly, the authorities are making some in the group stateless. This, 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," he added. The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights in a joint statement voiced "grave concern" over the decision targeting "prominent political activists, former members of parliament, clerics and others." They said the decision "is intended to punish them for expressing peaceful dissent and thereby intimidate others from exercising their right to freedom of expression." The groups called on the United Nations and world powers to persuade the authorities to "reverse this provocative decision" and to "immediately stop the systematic and widespread human rights violations against the citizens of Bahrain." Tension has been running high following a spate of bombings on Monday in Manama, which killed two Asian expatriates. Four people have been arrested in connection with the bombings. On Tuesday, King Hamad ordered "the swift arrest of the terrorists who carried out the recent terrorist acts in Bahrain" and urged citizens to help "bring them to justice so they receive their punishment over this appalling act." The United Nations also condemned the bombings. "These violent acts cannot be justified by any cause. We call on all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from any provocations," said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky. In a Wednesday statement, Bahraini opposition groups said they reject and condemn "all forms of violence regardless of its source" and "defend the rights of citizens in free expression and peaceful gatherings." The authorities said arsonists torched a Hyundai warehouse in the Shiite district of Sitra on Wednesday, destroying 59 vehicles in what state television said was a "terrorist" attack.