AI has received countless reports of the forcible exile of Bahraini nationals from Bahrain since the early 1980s. In the early 1980s, members of the majority Shi’a community suspected of having links with Iran were expelled in the wake of an alleged coup attempt. In recent years, many Bahraini nationals attempting to return after years of voluntary exile have been detained at Bahrain’s international airport on their return, prior to being expelled. A number have been permitted to return, usually after more than one attempt. Throughout 1993 returning nationals have been questioned on arrival in Bahrain and returned to their former country of residence, denied opportunity to appeal or challenge the decision. Cases illustrating the concerns of this document are described, namely: Dr ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Rashid al-Rashid, Ahmed Hussein Akbar ‘Abbas, Al-Sayyid Hashem al-Moussawi, and Badr ‘Abd al-Malik Mohammad.
