In the continuing crackdown in Bahrain, Ayatollah Hussein al-Najati – a prominent Shia religious figure – has been stripped of his citizenship. The passports of his wife and three children have also been revoked.

Najati is the local representative of the Iraqi grand ayatollah, Ali al-Sistani.

According to Arab News, Najati's citizenship was revoked because he had not obtained Bahraini nationality "through the appropriate legal means". The paper says that Najati, who was born in Bahrain, had been granted citizenship under political reforms by the king in 2001.

Simultaneously, Kuwait – which is also fearful of its Shia community – has revoked the citizenship of activist Yasser al-Habeeb. Habeeb, who lives in London, has been accused of trying to trigger sectarian tensions. Remarks he made recently about Ayesha, the wife of the Prophet, led to a ban on public gatherings in Kuwait.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 21 September 2010.