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Sentenced to Life: Bahrain Convicts Five for Plotting Terrorist Acts Linked to Iran’s IRGC
A Bahraini court has sentenced five individuals to life in prison for conspiring with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out terrorist acts. ⚖️ The convicts were found guilty of collecting sensitive intelligence on vital infrastructure, hotels, and security sites to facilitate future attacks. This ruling comes amid a high-security environment in Manama, following recent interceptions of over 300 Iranian missiles and drones since February. 🛡️ With King Hamad now directing a review of citizenship for those linked to such espionage, this verdict sends a clear signal on national sovereignty.
ND
by News Desk
2026-04-28
Sentenced to Life: Bahrain Convicts Five for Plotting Terrorist Acts Linked to Iran’s IRGC

A Bahraini court has handed down life sentences to five individuals—two Afghans and three Bahrainis—for conspiring with Iran to carry out "hostile and terrorist acts" against the Kingdom.

The group was convicted of conducting surveillance and photographing "vital facilities" to assist Iranian intelligence. This verdict arrives at a time of extreme tension, as Bahrain continues to navigate the fallout of the Middle East war that began in February, during which the Gulf state was targeted by Iranian missile and drone strikes.

The Context of the Crackdown

This ruling is part of a broader, aggressive security campaign by Manama to insulate the country from foreign influence:

  • Citizenship Revocations: Just one day prior to these sentences, Bahrain stripped 69 people of their citizenship, accusing them of supporting Iranian aggression. This marks the first mass revocation of its kind since 2019.

  • National Security Stance: The Public Prosecution has labeled communication with hostile foreign entities as one of the most severe threats to the state, and they are currently considering an appeal to overturn the acquittal of a sixth defendant in this specific plot.

  • Human Rights Concerns: Advocacy groups, including Human Rights Watch and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), have raised alarms over these developments. They describe the current climate as a "dangerous era of repression," citing a lack of legal safeguards for those facing citizenship loss and mass arrests since the war began.
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