Threatening to deport Bahraini citizens stripped of their citizenship is a dangerous violation

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society in Bahrain stresses that threatening to deport citizens who had their citizenship revoked, in acts of retaliation, is a clear misuse of power. This oppressive measure that left 31 Bahrainis stateless contradicts international law on human rights as well as international norms. The authorities have used it against citizens for racial and ethnic reasons merged with political reasons relating to demands for democratic transition. This, however, is immense persecution and retaliation.The Bahraini authorities have called in the citizens to the Department of Immigration and Passports where their passports and ID documents were taken. This deprives these people of their fundamental rights such as to identity and healthcare.Al-Wefaq stresses that leaving those persons stateless and threatening to deport them, although they have no relation with any state, is a deep infringement to fundamental human rights and only destroys the country and deepens its crisis.It is obvious to the world that the officials in Bahrain do not adhere to international and humanitarian obligations which any state committed to international legitimacy must adhere to. Thereof, the international community must deal differently and decisively with the Bahraini regime to guarantee its adherence to international requirements and this can only be achieved through democratic transition in which the people are the source of all powers.The regime has no right to revoke nationalities of Bahraini citizens while it is naturalizing hundreds of people for political and sectarian reasons. This explains the magnitude of corruption in state institutions that are systematically destroying the country and the society.The policy of persecution and retaliation for racial and ethnic reasons, mixed with political motives, is a systematic practice of the regime. The regime has previously displaced many citizens.Al-Wefaq has serious concerns over the situation of those revoked from their citizenship. The United Nations must interfere according to the international law for human rights and the international humanitarian law, with its different units, to stop this dangerous violation. It is time that this situation is replaced with democracy based on justice, equality and citizenship.The 31 citizens who had their citizenships revoked are victims of the regime’s repression and they present an example of the size of the official terror and oppression against the people of Bahrain.The regime’s police measures are pushing Bahrain into deeper deterioration in terms of human rights. Since March 2011, the regime has taken on a repressive security methodology undermining all the international community’s attempts to support political solutions. Moreover, the regime has turned its back on all recommendations of both the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the United Nations Human Rights Council.The regime takes responsibility for all these acts that in no way reflect a national outlook, but rather indicate that the regime is lost. The people of Bahrain are today more determined than ever to achieve peaceful transition of power./129