Three Bahrainis Sentenced for 'Attempting to Destabilize the Country with Iran's Help'

A court in Bahrain on Thursday, April 10, sentenced three Shia citizens of the country to long-term imprisonment and revoked their citizenship on charges of 'attempting to destabilize the country with financial assistance from the Islamic Republic.' According to a report by AFP from Manama, the capital of Bahrain, one of the individuals was sentenced to 15 years in prison, while the other two received ten years each. The news agency cited an unnamed source in Bahrain's judiciary stating that the court found these individuals guilty of 'forming a terrorist cell and receiving financial support from Iran with the aim of destabilizing the country.' Gulf Arab states have long accused the Islamic Republic of interfering in their internal affairs and financially supporting opposition and dissenters in these countries. This accusation was reiterated this week. At the 28th Arab League summit attended by 18 Arab countries in Jordan, which concluded on Wednesday night with a statement, the members of this union labeled Iran as an 'interfering' party in regional affairs. Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, also accused Iran of 'recruiting militants to act against' his country. In response, Iran has consistently denied allegations of interference in other countries, with a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry reiterating on the same day, April 10, that the Islamic Republic 'essentially has no need to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and always adheres to good neighborliness, respect for the sovereignty of states, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.' However, the court session in Bahrain on Thursday came just a day after two Shia citizens received death sentences and 20 others were sentenced to prison. These individuals were convicted in connection with a bombing in 2015 that resulted in the deaths of two police officers. Bahrain became the center of protests in 2011 aimed at reforming the political and governmental system of the country. Predominantly Shia citizens of Bahrain accuse its Sunni royal family of ignoring their rights and practicing discrimination. Over the past years, several protesters and dissenters have been arrested, and the activities of at least one major political organization have been curtailed.