Manama Deprives Five More Bahrainis of Citizenship
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Bahraini regime, in another attempt to silence voices of dissent, has revoked the nationality of five more Bahraini citizens on political grounds, local reports said.
A Bahraini court sentenced the five Bahrainis to jail terms ranging from 5 to 15 years and stripped them of their citizenship, the Arabic-language Al-Ahed news website reported.
The Al Khalifa regime has leveled various accusations against the dissidents, including joining terrorist groups, disrupting public institutions and possessing weapons.
Since 1980s, the ruling Al Khalifa regime has been trying to change the Kingdom’s demographic structure which largely consists of Shiites.
Measures have also been taken by Manama to limit the electoral power of the Shiite majority including granting Bahraini citizenship and the right to vote to 20,000 tribal Sunnis from Saudi Arabia, without having to fulfill the criteria of citizenship.
In November 2014, the Bahrain regime threatened to take away Bahraini nationality from those who refuse to vote in that year’s parliamentary elections, which were boycotted by opposition groups.
Bahrain has been the scene of almost daily protests against the Al Khalifa regime since early 2011, when an uprising began in the country.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others wounded and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on peaceful protests.
