A total of BD600,000 in cash was found at the residence of one of the 41 individuals recently arrested over alleged terror links with Iran.
The disclosure was made by Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa during a meeting yesterday with various segments of society, where he highlighted Iran’s interference in Bahrain’s affairs through its proxies and ideologies.
He referred to recent developments, including the revocation of citizenship of 69 individuals and the arrest of 41 men accused of being part of a terror cell linked to Iran.
The minister said the group was built around members of the dissolved Islamic Scholars Council.
“It is not a new group,” he said.
“We have been patient with it over the years and addressed the matter through reform, forgiveness, tolerance and pardon. However, they continued their destructive plans,” he added.
Gen Shaikh Rashid said members of the group worked to ‘hijack the national will’ within the Shi’ite community, terrorise those who opposed their ideology, collect large sums of money and conceal them in their homes to finance terrorist activities, as well as send funds abroad for similar purposes.
“A sum of BD600,000 in cash was found in the home of one of those arrested,” he said.
He said the group had infiltrated mosques and community centres (ma’atams), originally established and run by well-known families.
“Those families have now been intimidated and removed from their administration, while the ma’atams have been turned into centres for recruitment and ideological promotion.”
He added that the group exaggerated social and economic issues, built militias linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, trained members in designated camps, supplied them with weapons and explosives, and facilitated smuggling operations.
“They also infiltrated education, media and social media platforms to spread the Wilayat Al Faqih ideology,” he said.
The minister said the group conducted disinformation campaigns, fuelled sectarianism and attempted to sow discord within Bahraini society.
“Is this not a crime against the nation?” he asked.
“Recent incidents have revealed the true nature of individuals and distinguished between those who chose loyalty to the nation and those who chose to stand with its enemies.
“The situation was dealt with swiftly and immediately by revoking their Bahraini citizenship and deporting those who betrayed the nation to the place that encouraged them to commit such betrayal.”
Gen Shaikh Rashid described the measures as a ‘turning point’ in security policy.
“Today, it has become necessary to adopt a root-level approach and deal decisively with Iran’s proxies in Bahrain, particularly those linked to Wilayat Al Faqih and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps,” said Gen Shaikh Rashid.
“Our efforts will continue to clean the security landscape of those who harm the nation to serve those who have committed aggression against us.”
He added that Iran and its proxies had long sought to infiltrate the Shi’ite community through the dissolved Islamic Scholars Council as a religious arm and the dissolved Al Wefaq Society as a political arm.
“When Iran’s proxies withdrew from Parliament in 2011, this required careful reflection,” added Gen Shaikh Rashid.
“At that time, national figures from the Shiite community shouldered their patriotic responsibility and took part in the by-elections despite threats and intimidation.
“Iran then realised that its plan had not been completed, and that there remained members of the Shiite community in Bahrain who did not submit to its political and jurisprudential authority.
“They deserve our sincere thanks.”
Following the meeting, attendees pledged loyalty to His Majesty King Hamad and reaffirmed their commitment to preserving security and public order.
They stressed that national unity remains essential to confronting challenges, emphasising that Bahrain’s security and stability are red lines that cannot be compromised.
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