Two Iranian nationals and a Bahraini will soon stand trial in Manama charged
with spying for the Islamic Republic.
According to Bahrain News, "collecting economic and military information and
relaying it to senior Revolutionary Guards officials with an intention to harm
Bahrain interests from 2002 to 2010" is the charge brought against these
individuals. The trial will reportedly take place on April 20, 2011.
This trial follows Iranian criticism of Bahrain's violent
treatment of popular uprisings. Two weeks ago, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke out
against the "clamp down and massacre" of the opposition in Bahrain and urged the
government to pay attention to and respect people's demands.
Ahmadinejad referred to the announcement issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) accusing Iran of "interference in the affairs of the countries of the
region" and said: "This bill was approved under pressure from the United
States."
Iranian parliament has consistently condemned the presence of Saudi troops in
Bahrain which have entered Manama following Bahraini Monarchy's call for aid
from its partners in the GCC.
Bahrain has accused Iran of meddling in its internal affairs and announced that
it will file an official complaint against Iran at the United Nations.
Bahrain has been facing a popular uprising since February 14. Protesters demand
resignation of the prime minister, Bahraini monarch's cousin who has been the
head of the country's government since 1971. Release of all political prisoners
and constitutional reform is also amongst the demands of the protesters.
Since the start of the protests, tens of protesters have been killed, hundreds
have disappeared and thousand have been wounded.
In recent weeks Kuwait also announced that two Iranian nationals and a Kuwaiti
have been given the death penalty for passing on sensitive military information
to Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. These individuals were serving in Kuwaiti
army at the time of their arrest.
Ahmadinejad has flippantly dismissed the charges of espionage saying: "What does
Kuwait have that Iran may want to spy on?"
