Bahrain has suspended the scholarships of 10 percent of students studying abroad after they called for the downfall of the ruling family.
The Education Ministry said it had decided to suspend 40 scholarships out of a total of 400 studying abroad at the government’s expense.
In comments published by state news agency BNA, Dr Nabeel Al Assoomi, director of Public Relations and Media at the ministry, said the studentshad failed to meet the terms of the scholarships as they had “committed serious illegal and unconstitutional violations”.
He added: “The ministry has granted those students scholarships, costing thousands of Bahraini dinars, according to special conditions among which are good conduct and commitment not to harm the country abroad in any way.
“Because they explicitly breached those conditions and called for the downfall of the ruling system, the same system that has allowed them to study at the most renowned world universities…the Ministry has decided to deprive them from a privilege they do not deserve.”
The suspension of scholarships will take effect starting from the next academic year as the ministry has already paid the studying expenses for this year.
On Friday, small protests broke out in Bahrain’s capital for a planned Day of Rage despite a ban under martial law imposed last week, but were quickly crushed by security forces fanned out across Manama.
Bahrain declared martial law on March 15 after troops from Saudi Arabia and the UAE arrived to help quell protests that have gripped the Gulf state for more than a month.
The army on March 19 demolished the 300ft monument on the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, which had become a focal point for protesters.
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