On 22 September 2026, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) delivered an intervention during the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council under Item 4. ADHRB highlighted Bahrain’s escalating use of nationality revocation to suppress dissent, including the revocation of 69 people’s nationality, and called for an end to arbitrary revocations and the restoration of nationality to those affected.
We draw the Council’s attention to Bahrain’s escalating use of nationality revocation to suppress dissent, particularly amid the recent war with Iran, continuing a pattern since 2012.
On 27 April 2026, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior revoked the nationality of 69 people, including some family members, over alleged sympathy for Iranian attacks or collusion with foreign entities, without judicial proceedings to establish these allegations.
A decree was also issued removing judicial oversight of nationality revocation decisions and denying those affected the right to challenge or appeal them. Three MPs were excluded from Parliament after opposing the decree.
Bahrain’s use of nationality to punish expression or dissent, and its denial of judicial safeguards, raises serious concerns about discrimination, statelessness, and the denial of effective remedies.
We call on the Council to pressure Bahrain to stop arbitrary nationality revocations, ensure affected individuals can challenge them and seek judicial review, restore the nationality of those stripped of it, and reinstate the three MPs to their seats.
