Hawzah News Agency- the fallout from the war targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to reverberate across the region. The consequences have not been confined to the military and political levels alone but have extended to several Persian Gulf states, which have witnessed intensified security measures and mounting internal tensions.
In Bahrain, the recent surge in arrests, citizenship revocation rulings, and politically and religiously motivated prosecutions has prompted extensive discussion about the trajectory of the country. Authorities stand accused of exploiting the regional climate to tighten their security grip, specifically targeting dissidents, particularly within the Shia community.
Speaking to Al-Ahd news website, Dr. Ebrahim Al-Oraidi, head of the political bureau of Bahrain's February 14 Coalition, stressed that the Al Khalifa regime has pursued a hostile policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran for years. However, the recent war provided an opportunity to expand this policy and translate it into direct, practical measures inside Bahrain.
He noted that the kingdom was among the first countries whose territory and military bases were utilized in the framework of aggression against Iran. According to Al-Oraidi, the regime is seeking to promote a narrative that frames Iran as the primary source of threat to the country, while the people of Bahrain are barred from voicing their views or questioning the reasons behind the country's participation in this course.
Hundreds Detained on Sectarian Grounds
Al-Oraidi further stated that Bahrain is currently witnessing a sweeping wave of arrests targeting Shia citizens. He explained that semi-official estimates indicate hundreds have been detained since the speech delivered by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khamenei, while many families are under pressure and threat to refrain from disclosing the fate of their loved ones or speaking about the arrests that have befallen them.
He added that Bahraini authorities treat intellectual and religious affiliation linked to the line of Wilayat al-Faqih as a punishable offense. Anyone suspected of supporting the Islamic Republic or being associated with this orientation is now subject to prosecution, detention, or threats of citizenship revocation. He noted that amid a growing sense of insecurity and continued punitive measures against well-known religious, social, and cultural figures, fear and terror have become the prevailing state among Shia citizens.
The member of the February 14 Coalition's political bureau explained that the prosecutions have not been limited to political activists alone but have extended to scholars, orators, eulogists, and prominent social figures. In his view, what is unfolding constitutes an organized campaign targeting the entire Shia environment.
He pointed out that the regime, directly or indirectly, encourages sectarian and inflammatory discourse, while Shia citizens are subjected to systematic smear campaigns due to their religious beliefs and political stances.
Pressure to Extract Forced Loyalty
Al-Oraidi also revealed mounting pressure on citizens to affirm political loyalty to the Bahraini regime and disavow religious authorities with whom the regime is at odds. In his assessment, these measures reflect the magnitude of the crisis the regime faces in dealing with a broad segment of Bahraini society.
He stressed that the recent wave of arrests has swept through various regions and villages of Bahrain, with authorities continuing to pursue anyone believed to belong to the line of resistance or to support the Islamic Republic. He noted that any attempt to target followers of Wilayat al-Faqih effectively amounts to targeting a large percentage of the country's Shia population.
Al-Oraidi believes Bahrain is living under the shadow of an undeclared martial law, with the circle of repression now encompassing scholars, activists, and religious and social institutions.
Pointing to the detention of dozens of religious scholars in recent months, he described this as a dangerous precedent in Bahrain's history and an indication of an official approach aimed at further restricting religious and political freedoms.
Al-Oraidi criticized what he termed the authorities' "double standards" in dealing with public activities. He stated that artistic celebrations and entertainment events are held normally and enjoy official backing, while severe restrictions are imposed on religious occasions and Shia rituals, in addition to citizens being barred from attending religious events abroad.
He also addressed the issue of citizenship revocations targeting a number of Bahraini nationals, explaining that protests by some parliamentarians against these measures were met with an extensive campaign of political and media pressure, forcing them to retreat and resign. This, he said, underscores the limited role of legislative institutions in the country and the dominance of executive decisions over all pillars of the state.
He emphasized that what is taking place is not confined to security measures alone but has extended to an assault on the religious and cultural identity of Shia citizens and the targeting of their religious and social symbols. He noted that prominent scholarly figures and their families, both inside and outside Bahrain, have been subjected to arrest and prosecution within the framework of what he described as "regional security coordination aimed at targeting Shia dissidents and activists."
Attempts to Defame Scholars
Al-Oraidi warned of efforts to defame detained scholars through the leaking of information from ongoing interrogations and accusing them of financial and moral cases. In his view, the objective of these campaigns is to undermine the social standing of these scholars and justify heavy sentences that may be handed down against them in the future.
At the regional level, Al-Oraidi believes that Persian Gulf regimes that had gambled on weakening Iran are now facing a different reality following the failure of those bets. The steadfastness of the Islamic Republic during the recent confrontation, he argued, imposed new equations in the region and demonstrated the limits of the ability of the United States and its allies to dictate their political and military terms.
He concluded his remarks by stressing that the security measures, the wave of arrests, and the political prosecutions will not achieve the objectives sought by Bahraini authorities, but will instead lead to heightened public anger and internal tensions. He firmly asserted that the attempt to exploit regional developments to settle scores with Shia citizens will not succeed in altering existing realities or weakening their presence and role in Bahraini society.
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