Bahrain’s recent crackdown on dissidents was not politically motivated, but was aimed at maintaining national stability, according to Information Minister Ali bin Mohammed al-Rumaihi.
Last month, authorities revoked the nationality of Ayatollah Isa Qassim, Bahrain's top Shia cleric and spiritual leader of the largest opposition group, al-Wefaq.
Al-Wefaq was itself shut down and its political leader, Ali Salman, was sentenced to nine years in prison in May.
Al-Wefaq was one of the main opposition groups involved in pro-democracy protests in the Sunni-ruled, Shiite majority kingdom in 2011.
The protests, which came after popular uprisings toppled dictators in Tunisia and Egypt, were crushed with the backing of neighbouring Saudi Arabia, a regional rival of Shiite Iran.
“With the growth of political sectarianism, terrorist perils and foreign interferences in internal affairs, public and parliamentary demands increased for enforcing the rule of law in order to maintain security of the country and its people,” al-Rumaihi told dpa from Manama.
He added that opponents now in jail were convicted on security charges, including involvement in violence and inciting sectarianism.
“They were not tried because of their opinions. They also had public and transparent trials.”
In recent weeks, Bahrain stripped a number of its nationals of citizenship, triggering international criticism.
Al-Rumaihi advocated the move.
“They included persons convicted of spying for Iran and having links with terrorist groups,” he said.
"This was also applied to people affiliated to terrorist Daesh," he added, referring to the radical Sunni Islamic State.
Bahrain is home to the US Fifth Fleet.
By Sayed Baqer Alkamel
