Joint Civil Society Appeal on Arbitrary Citizenship Revocation in Bahrain
May 2026
Nationality for All (NFA) joined a coalition of civil society organizations in issuing a joint appeal in response to the Government of Bahrain’s decision to revoke the nationality of at least 69 individuals, including children.
The coalition expressed deep concern over the use of citizenship revocation measures that risk violating international human rights obligations and contributing to statelessness. The decision, reportedly affecting individuals of varying ages, underscores the far-reaching consequences of policies that treat nationality as discretionary rather than as a fundamental right.
Context and Concerns
The revocation of nationality can have immediate and long-term impacts on individuals and their families, including loss of legal identity, restricted access to essential services, and heightened vulnerability to exclusion and insecurity.
The joint appeal highlighted concerns regarding:
- The risk of creating or exacerbating statelessness
- The absence of adequate legal safeguards and judicial oversight
- The broader implications for the protection of human rights and the rule of law
The coalition emphasized that decisions relating to nationality must be consistent with international legal standards and subject to due process.
Call to Action
In its appeal to international actors, the coalition called for:
- The restoration of nationality to affected individuals
- An end to the use of arbitrary citizenship revocation practices
- Stronger legal safeguards to ensure accountability and prevent future violations
- Alignment of national laws and practices with international standards on the prevention of statelessness
NFA’s Position
As a regional organization working to advance the right to nationality, NFA remains committed to addressing policies and practices that contribute to statelessness.
This joint action reflects NFA’s broader engagement in supporting rights-based approaches to nationality and advocating for systems that uphold legal identity, dignity, and inclusion.
Further Information
The full joint statement provides additional details on the situation and the coalition’s recommendations.
👉 Read the full statement: https://salam-dhr.org/bahrain-responding-to-government-determination-to-violate-human-rights-civil-society-organisations-appeal-to-world-leaders-to-help-end-citizenship-stripping/
