Kuwait, Bahrain take further action against 'Hizballah-linked individuals'

Kuwait is set to deport people it suspects of having links to the Lebanese Hizballah movement, and ban the entry of anyone it suspects is related to the Shia organisation - now designated a "terror group" by the GCC and Arab League.

Those affected include Lebanese and Syrian expats, in addition to other Gulf nationals, proven to have links to Hizballah or to support it financially, politically or through the media, the Kuwaiti Al-Rai newspaper reported on Thursday.

Six people have been forbidden from entering Kuwait, the residency permit of five others were not renewed and two others were given a month to leave the country, said the Kuwaiti newspaper.

The report said that the sanctioned individuals include business leaders and media figures who were "designated according to overwhelming evidence of their link to Hizballah".

Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Jarallah stated earlier that "anyone who is proven to be cooperating or supporting Hizballah will be placed under legal prosecution".

Bahrain announced the arrest of a Bahraini shop owner and his employee for selling Hizballah-related images

The Kuwaiti measures follow growing tensions between the GCC - to which Kuwait belongs - and the Lebanese party, over its involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and now Kuwait have taken a series of punitive measures against Hizballah.

On Thursday, Bahrain announced the arrest of a Bahraini shop owner and his Asian employee for selling Hizballah-related images, said the Bahrain News Agency.

The two individuals were arrested and large number of images were confiscated from the store. 

Police warned that legal action would be taken against organisations or individuals with links to Hizballah.

Investment or commercial links, charity work, ownership of bank accounts or money transfers in support of the group are illegal in Bahrain.

On Monday, Bahrain expelled a number of Lebanese Shias for their alleged affiliation to Hizballah.

The move came a day after Bahrain's neighbour, Saudi Arabia, warned that it would punish citizens and residents who "support or demonstrate belonging" to Hizballah.