MANAMA – Bahraini authorities have revoked the nationality of 31 men for damaging national security, state news agency BNA reported Wednesday. The names of the 31 people, including brothers Jawad and Jalal Fairuz, both ex-MPs who represented Al-Wefaq bloc, were listed in the report, which quoted an interior ministry statement. Also named was Ali Mashaima, son of Hassan Mashaima who is head of the radical opposition movement Haq. The government move comes after Bahrain late last month banned all protests and gatherings to ensure that “security is maintained.” The authorities said Tuesday that four suspects had been arrested in connection with deadly bombings the day before, and that the Shiite militant group Hezbollah may have played a role. The blasts were a major escalation of the violence that has roiled Bahrain. King Hamad ordered Tuesday “the swift arrest of the terrorists who carried out the recent terrorist acts in Bahrain” and urged citizens to help “bring them to justice so they receive their punishment over this appalling act.” The official Bahrain News Agency quoted the Minister of Information, Samira Ibrahim Bin Rajab, as saying the bombings “bear the hallmarks of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.” Bahrain's chief of public security, Maj. Gen. Tariq Al-Hassan, said that the bombing suspects had been taken into custody and that further arrests were possible. – Agencies
