Bahrain Mirror: A report recently published by the Salam for Democracy and Human Rights revealed that the Bahraini authorities' targeting of the Ajam minority, an ethnic group composed of Shia Bahraini citizens of non-Arab Iranian national background, who constitute 15-20% of the population in Bahrain.

In 2011, prominent figures from the Ajam community were brutally targeted during the 14 February uprising by the authorities, as well as the majority of the Bahraini population.

"In Bahrain, citizens are not treated equally in regards to their nationality rights. The situation is not simply "first class" or "second-class" citizens, but rather a complex, hierarchical system of, what we have identified as, seven levels of citizenship, often relating to ethnicity, religion, relations and family," the report stressed.

The report further stated that "in terms of discrimination against Shia (Baharna as well as Ajam), they are a minority in all constitutional and administrative," government bodies.

The report said that more than 260 Bahrainis have been stripped of their citizenship so far, including 25 Ajams. The list of people stripped of their nationality includes prominent figures in Bahraini society, such as former MPs Jawad and Jalal Fairooz, and lawyer Taymour Karimi, Dr. Masoud Jahromi as well as Sheikh Hassan Najati, who is Ayatollah Sayed Sistani's representative in Bahrain, and Sheikh Mohammad Khojasteh.

Following the state of emergency in March 2011, a systematic campaign of arrests was launched against pro-democracy activists. The most tragic of the arrests against Ajam was the arrest and torture of well-known businessman Karim Fakhrawi, who died due to the torture he was subjected to inside prison in April 2011.

Yousef Al-Mowali was also taken into custody, tortured and drowned in the sea on January 13, 2012. Forensic doctors confirmed that he was tortured with electric shocks and was unconscious when he drowned, according to the report.

The report called on the Bahraini Government to commit to UN conventions and treaties regarding the rights of minorities and put an end to its the revocation of citizenships issued against its citizens, including the Ajam.

Arabic Version