The Case of Ibrahim Karimi
Mr. Ibrahim Karimi was one of the first group
the GoB and he was imprisoned for three
of 31 people to be stripped of their
months, during which he reportedly was
ci.zenship in 2012.
tortured and ill-treated by prison officials.
Shortly aNer being released, he was deported
Mr. Karimi has been arbitrarily arrested
without any legal measures or jus.fica.on,
several .mes by the Bahraini authori.es for
and with no official papers. Mr. Karimi
exercising his right to freedom of expression,
remained in exile for 21 years, living between
associa.on, and peaceful assembly. In
Lebanon and Europe, un.l he returned to
February 1981, he was arrested and detained
Bahrain in 2002, when the King announced
for par.cipa.ng in peaceful protests against
reforms, including a general amnesty.
of the individuals had any previous
During the 2011 Bahraini uprising, Mr. Karimi
communica.ons on the mater of this
was arrested by the Na.onal Security Agency
decision, nor had they been subject to any
on 14 April and detained for two months in a
inves.ga.ons or even ques.oning.
Na.onal Security Agency prison in the
basement of Qal’a Prison, where he was,
Mr. Karimi appealed the decision through his
again, allegedly tortured and ill-treated. He
lawyer Mohammed Isa Al-Tajir, on 28
was accused of spreading false rumours and
February 2013. The lawyer stated at the .me
incitement to hatred against the regime, and
that the revoca.on of na.onality decision
he was sentenced to a year in prison. ANer
was derived solely from the Interior Minister,
appealing the decision, Mr. Karimi was
and that no consulta.on was held with the
acquited aNer spending eleven months in
King, making the decision itself unlawful, as it
prison.
was issued by an authority that had no
powers or delegated authority to pass such a
ANer Mr. Karimi was released from prison in
decision under the legal framework at the
April 2012, he heard via the media about the
.me. On 29 April 2014, the First Civil Court
Interior Minister’s decision to strip him and
denied the appeal of Mr. Karimi, on the basis
30 other individuals of their na.onality. None
that the government has the full right to
35 | 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