Bahrain expels three MPs for voting against royal decree on citizenship

Bahrain's lower house voted on May 8 to unanimously expel MPs Abdulnabi Salman, Mamdooh al-Saleh, and Mahdi al-Shuwaik after they opposed a royal decree stripping judicial review of citizenship issues. The move came just days after the state stripped 69 people of nationality over links to the war with Iran, including those accused of harming Bahrain and their dependent family members, among them children.

In an April 28 session, 33 MPs voted for the decree, three were absent, and three abstained. Issued two years ago, the decree reclassified nationality matters as sovereignty issues, meaning those affected cannot appeal or seek judicial recourse.

The three dissenting MPs faced intense criticism this past week, including from King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa himself. In a rare direct rebuke, the king accused them of siding with "traitors" and urged them to apologize "or join those whom you have chosen to ally with, those who have left the country or been expelled."

Addressing parliament, MP Salman argued that judicial oversight was necessary "to achieve justice and a sense of fairness and trust." He also rejected collective punishment, referring to the stripping of citizenship from dependent family members. "It is true that anyone who harms this country must be punished, but punishments must not be collective or carried out as a reaction, because the matter concerns the fate, future, and trust of the people in the system and the judiciary," Salman said.

MP Saleh also criticized extending punishment to family members. "What is the fault of children and grandchildren? They may be innocent; they did not participate in the crimes or mistakes of their fathers," he told fellow lawmakers.

Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei of the Bahrain Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (Bird) called the expulsion a worrying development. "It sets a dangerous precedent that if you vote in a way the king or government of Bahrain finds displeasing, the consequences for you will be dire. You could even lose your nationality and be expelled."

Andrew McIntosh of the organization Salam for Democracy and Human Rights said the expulsion would have a devastating impact on domestic reformers. "We have already seen political movements boycotting elections since 2014, arguing that the lower house has no real power. That sentiment is growing. Disenfranchised and stripped of democratic channels to express grievances and advocate for change, Bahrain risks becoming more polarized and extreme. This is the opposite of what the government hopes to achieve."

The Iran-US-Israel war that erupted in late February saw Iran fire thousands of missiles and drones at Gulf states, including Bahrain. Direct impacts and fires from missile-interception debris were reported across the island. At least three people were killed and many wounded. The war was accompanied by an internal crackdown by Bahraini authorities. Bird recorded more than 200 arrests since the war began, some linked to protests, many over social media posts, including sharing videos of Iranian attacks.

Mohamed al-Mosawi, 32, died in custody after being arrested with friends in connection with the Iran war. Photos and videos showed bruises and marks across his face and body. His death sparked angry protests, with demonstrators accusing authorities of torturing him to death. Days earlier, Bahraini investigators charged an intelligence officer with assault during interrogation leading to Mosawi's death.