Bahrain: Iran has sheltered 160 stripped Bahraini fugitives

The Minister of Interior of Bahrain accused Iran of sheltering 160 Bahraini nationals stripped of their citizenship, who are alleged to be involved in terrorist activities. Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa stated in an interview published on Wednesday, October 18, in Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, that these individuals have participated in attacks against police and security forces and have been convicted in cases related to terrorist activities. The Minister added that these convicted individuals were involved in attacks that resulted in the deaths of 25 security personnel and injuries to 3,000 others, and they were trained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Bahraini government, which has a Shia majority, is controlled by the Sunni Al Khalifa family. Protesters in Bahrain have demanded a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister, a demand that has faced opposition from the Bahraini government. During the height of the protests, at the request of the King of Bahrain, the Peninsula Shield forces led by Saudi Arabia entered Bahrain on March 14, 2011. At that time, there were even discussions about a 'political union' between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which was confirmed by Bahraini officials, including the country's foreign minister. In response to this plan, thousands of Bahrainis took to the streets to protest. Iran also reacted to the presence of Saudi forces in Bahrain, with Ali Larijani, the Speaker of Parliament, stating, 'Bahrain is not a morsel that can be easily swallowed by someone else.' In recent years, Bahrain has continuously accused Iran of interfering in its internal affairs, and dozens have been tried on charges of espionage or connections with the IRGC. In 2016, the Bahraini government dissolved Al-Wefaq, the country's main Shia party, on charges of inciting violence and 'terrorism.' Sheikh Ali Salman, the Secretary-General of Al-Wefaq, was also arrested in December 2014 and sentenced to nine years in prison, although the appeals court reduced his sentence to four years. Bahrain also stripped Sheikh Isa Qassim, the leader of Shia in the country, of his citizenship last year and placed him under house arrest. Following the arrest of Sheikh Salman and Sheikh Isa Qassim, Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, issued a rare statement saying, 'They certainly know that violating the sanctity of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim is a red line that crossing it will ignite a fire in Bahrain and throughout the region and will leave the people with no option but armed resistance.' In October 2015, Bahrain expelled the Iranian chargé d'affaires after recalling its ambassador, following remarks by Ayatollah Khamenei against the Bahraini government and the 'discovery of a bomb-making workshop' and the arrest of several suspects linked to the Quds Force. Iran has denied interfering in Bahrain's internal affairs.