interna.onal human rights obliga.ons”. The
By a decree based on the proposal of
statement also added that: “Various UN
the Minister of Interior and aNer the
human rights mechanisms have repeatedly
approval of the Council of Ministers,
called on Bahrain to take specific steps to
the Bahraini na.onality may be revoked
amend its counter-terrorism legisla.on, and
from anyone who enjoys it in any of the
to ensure that ci.zenship is not revoked
following cases:
except in accordance with interna.onal
a. If they enter the military service of
standards and under independent judicial
a foreign country and remain in it
review.”16
despite the order issued by the
government of the Kingdom of
Law No. 21 of 2014 amending the
Bahraini Na:onality Law of 1963:
Bahrain to leave it.
b. If they aid or engage in the service
One of the main features of this law, is the
amendment to Ar.cle 10 of the 1963
of an enemy country.
c.
If they cause harm to the interests
Na.onality Law. Accordingly, a royal
of the Kingdom or act in a manner
decree on stripping of ci.zenship can be
that contradicts the duty of loyalty
issued based on a proposal by the Minister
to it.
of Interior, who must act with Cabinet
approval. As a result of this amendment,
While paragraphs (a) and (b) are similar to
the Cabinet, through the Minister of
the original Ar.cle 10(a) and Ar.cle 10(b) of
Interior, has the power to revoke
the Bahraini Na.onality Law of 1963 –
na.onality, pending the ra.fica.on of the
mirroring the previous powers of the King
King. The amended Ar.cle 10 is stated as
under the original Act – paragraph (c) of the
follows:
amendment is vaguer and broader than the
original Ar.cle 10(c), affording, on the face of
it, wider discre.on to the Minister of Interior,
16
Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, ‘UN human rights chief deeply concerned by mass terrorism
convic.ons in Bahrain’, (2019) <htps://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?
NewsID=24502&LangID=E> accessed 3 May 2021
21 | Arbitrary Revoca.on of Na.onality in Bahrain - a Tool of Oppression
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents