Al Wefaq: Bahrain regime revokes nationalities of 9 citizens

Courts in Bahrain have today revoked the nationalities of 9 citizens, on a political basis. The 9 individuals were among 13 to have recently been handed sentences of 5, 7, 10 and 15 years in prisons.

Al Wefaq National Islamic Society considered the rulings void and an unacceptable violation of fundamental human rights. The ruling demonstrates the clear relationship between the judicial system to the regime, thereby implying an urgent need for a fully independent and impartial judiciary.

Al Wefaq stresses that the court’s ruling to revoke nationalities of citizens is a serious violation and an exploitation of the judiciary to implement the agenda of the Authority. Such arbitrary measures, which started with the revocation of 31 citizens in 2012, are a clear infringement of international law, principles and fundamental human rights.

This ruling is an explicit recantation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Bahrain has been a signatory to since 2006. It is also a clear infringement of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and a perverse exploitation of power.

The rulings illustrate the regime’s intention to further complicate the political situation and their push for the collapse of all legal bases that rule the country. The regime is clearly blocking opportunities for a solution to the crisis.

Al Wefaq stresses that the United Nations is directly requested to follow these cases and put an end to such explicit infringements of UN conventions and declarations of which Bahrain is part.
The authoritarian and unelected regime in Bahrain is misusing power to retaliate against its dissidents.

Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him” and Article 15 states, “Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality”.
The United Nations must act within its responsibilities to foster respect for human rights and halt the continuous violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the Bahraini regime.