Bahrain and “Iranian-Backed Terrorism”

by Emile Nakhleh In a recent article, Matthew Levitt and Michael Knights of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) highlighted Iranian support of “terrorism” in Bahrain and suggested a future path for the country “balancing security and human… Continue Reading

What Trump Means for U.S.-Bahrain Relations

by Jesse Schatz and Giorgio Cafiero Since Bahrain’s “Arab Spring” uprising erupted almost six years ago, Western governments and commentators have both criticized Manama’s crackdown on Shi’ite dissent and expressed cautious optimism about the prospects for reform. In Washington and… Continue Reading

Bahrain: Anchors Aweigh?

by Richard Sokolsky The government of Bahrain’s unremitting repression and human rights abuses against its political opposition are leading the country down a road that over the coming years promises instability and a significant escalation of domestic conflict. The United… Continue Reading

Bahrain’s Unending Repression: Enough Already!

by Emile Nakhleh The al-Khalifa ruling regime’s decision to strip Sheikh Isa Qasim of his Bahraini citizenship on a trumped-up and patently false charge is yet another example of the ruling family’s deepening repression. This respected Shia cleric has always called… Continue Reading

The Price Bahrain Pays for Saudi Assistance

by Cinzia Bianco and Giorgio Cafiero The Saudi government’s execution of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr in early January met with an angry response from Shiites in Bahrain, where protestors and police engaged in violent clashes. The Saudi-Iranian diplomatic spat that… Continue Reading