revoca.ons of na.onality as a tool of are also likely to be arbitrarily detained, oppression, unlawfully targe.ng poli.cal tortured and have their property seized. opposi.on leaders, human rights ac.vists, Perhaps where it differs from other measures journalists, academics, religious scholars and is in its inter-genera.onal impact. Individuals even people who do not have any religious or deprived of their Bahraini na.onality cannot poli.cal affilia.on. According to available pass on their ci.zenship to children, thus informa.on, 985 persons were deprived of impac.ng future genera.ons as well. their na.onality since 2012, of which, at least 434 remain with their na.onality revoked. T h ro u g h o u t t h i s re p o r t , i t w i l l b e These arbitrary na.onality depriva.ons were demonstrated that revoca.on of na.onality carried out through various means – through in Bahrain violates interna.onal standards royal decrees, judicial rulings and ministerial and Bahrain’s obliga.ons under interna.onal orders, oNen without any legal basis, with law. In most cases of revoca.on of subsequent legisla.ve amendments being na.onality, Bahrain has failed to respect its introduced to create an illusion of obliga.on to prevent, avoid and reduce lawfulness. statelessness. Almost all those who were stripped from their ci.zenship since 2012 The GoB’s prac.ce of ci.zenship revoca.on were rendered stateless. Authori.es did not must be viewed as one of the many deeply take into considera.on or ensure that harmful, arbitrary and an.-democra.c tools statelessness isn’t a consequence of in its arsenal, to crack down on dissent and na.onality depriva.on. maintain its grip on power. Like its use of torture, or the death penalty or the seizing of This prac.ce and its effects will be explored, property, ci.zenship depriva.on is designed firstly in an overview of the country’s own as a measure to invoke fear and cause deep evolving law regarding its na.onality, as well and oNen irreparable harm. Further, the as the depriva.on or stripping of it, which measure is oNen imposed alongside others. will be analysed in its codified texts of the For example, vic.ms of na.onality revoca.on Bahraini Na.onality Law of 1963;5 Law No. 21 5 The Bahraini Na.onality Law of 1963, available in English at: <htps://www.refworld.org/pdfid/3}9f34f4.pdf> 10 | Arbitrary Revoca.on of Na.onality in Bahrain - a Tool of Oppression