Iran Focus
London, 2 Jun – Eighteen people have been charged in Bahrain for contacting Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, according to an article by Reuters.
It is alleged that their aim was to stir up unrest within the country as they also contacted Hezbollah, the Shi’ite Muslim Lebanese group which Bahrain designated as a terrorist cell. They wanted to incite Bahrainis against the monarchy and overthrow the government.
Those arrested planned to obtain money and practical support from Hezbollah and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in exchange for reports on the political social and economic situation in Bahrain.
A report by Bahrain’s News Agency said: “It had been established that the money that had been received had been used to support those held in jail in relation to terrorism cases and terrorist groups to encourage them to carry out more terrorist acts”.
Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Iran in January, following Iranian attacks on Saudi diplomats. It also blames Iran for provoking mass protests in Bahrain’s Shi’ite Muslim majority in 2011; charges that Iran denies.
Ten arrestees are in custody; the other eight will go on trial in absentia later this month.
