To the attention of:
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Ms. Irene Khan;
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Ms. Andrea Bolaños;
Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Ms. Alice Jill Edwards;
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Mr. Morris Tidball-Binz;
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Mr. Ben Saul;
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance MS. Ashwini K.P.
Dear Special Rapporteurs,
With this letter we are reaching you jointly to express our concern that the war between the United States of America, Israel, and the Islamic Republic of Iran has had a profound impact on many countries, not only economically but also as a pretext to justify the repression of dissenting voices, particularly in the Persian Gulf, where countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have seen arrests, deportations, and even the stripping of citizenship.
The UAE has mostly targeted Pakistani Shia allegedly because of Pakistan’s efforts to broker a ceasefire between the warring countries, and their perceived neutrality, as well as targeting these workers for being Shia Muslims, and therefore perceived stereotypically as supporting Iran. Often, they are being deported after having their phones taken and their assets frozen, forcing them to return to Pakistan empty handed. They are instrumentalising pre-existing sectarianism and racism in order to create a climate of fear within the country.
On April 27th, 2026, Bahrain stripped 69 nationals of their citizenship for allegedly supporting Iran, and on the same day reports claim that three officials had been removed from the Bahraini government for criticizing the move.
By 10th May, at least 350 people had been arrested in Bahrain under allegations of supporting Iran, 41 of whom are Islamic scholars, including prominent ulama such as Mohammed Sanqour and Ali Al-Sadadi. Bahrain is a country that has a long history of similar repression and of hideous torture towards political prisoners. As recently as March this year, 32-year-old Sayed Mohamed Almosawi disappeared for nine days only to be found tortured to death at the hands of the Bahraini National Intelligence Agency.
These cases set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of political opposition and people who belong to a certain nationality or religious group. If allowed to continue this will not only allow the continuation and intensification of such repression but also will inspire regimes across the world to initiate or intensify repression in their own countries with impunity. I therefore urge you to use whatever powers you have at your disposal to pressure these regimes into granting the basic human rights of citizenship, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and freedom from torture or the threat of such.
IHRC can also provide relevant contacts and testimonies from local grassroots movements, should you need them for any follow-up.
Yours Sincerely
Caterina Aiena
IHRC Senior Advocacy Officer
