Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — Bahrain, after years of warnings, has expelled a leading U.S. diplomat for links with the Iranian-backed Shi’ite opposition.

The Gulf Cooperation Council kingdom declared U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Tomasz Malinowski persona non grata. The Foreign Ministry said Malinowski was ordered to leave Bahrain immediately for meeting with the Shi’ite opposition.

“The Foreign Affairs Ministry of the kingdom of Bahrain has confirmed
that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor, Tom Malinowski, is unwelcome and should immediately leave the
country, due to his interference in its internal affairs,” the official
Bahrain News Agency said on July 7. “These activities have included holding
meetings with one party, leaving out others who represent different parts of
society, which is indicative of an approach which discriminates amongst the people of this one nation.”

The Foreign Ministry said Malinowski met Al Wefaq, deemed the leading
Shi’ite opposition group. Malinowski was said to have arrived in Manama on
July 6 for a three-day visit, cut short by his expulsion.

The expulsion capped more than two years of demands by Sunni politicians
for a crackdown on the U.S. embassy. The politicians, including leading
parliamentarians, asserted that the embassy, supported by President Barack
Obama, was encouraging the Iranian-backed Shi’ite revolt.

“Such activities are contrary to diplomatic norms and relations between
states, as well as running counter to the recommendations of the National
Assembly during its extraordinary session in July, 2013,” BNA said.

At first, the United States did not acknowledge the expulsion. Later,
the State Department said Malinowski, on a mission to determine whether
Bahrain was instituting pro-democratic reforms, was told he must be
accompanied by a Foreign Ministry representative to all meetings.

“Contrary to our longstanding bilateral relationship and in violation of
international diplomatic protocol, the government insisted — without
advance warning and after his visit had already commenced — to have a
Foreign Ministry representative present at all of Assistant Secretary
Malinowski’s private meetings with individuals and groups representing a
broad spectrum of Bahraini society, including those held at the U.S.
embassy,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “These actions are
not consistent with the strong partnership between the United States and
Bahrain.”

Bahrain has been a leading base for the U.S. Navy. The Navy’s 5th Fleet,
with headquarters outside Manama for more than 40 years, directs operations
in the Gulf.

“The kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms its strong and solid relations with
the United States of America, and underlines that the progress and
development of these ties should not be affected by such unfortunate acts,”
BNA said.

  Bahrain expels U.S. diplomat for meeting with Iran-backed opposition, Tomasz Malinowski