Manama: Authorities in Kuwait have decided not to renew the residency permits of five journalists and to ban six other media people from entering the country over their links to the Lebanese armed militia Hezbollah.

The journalists reportedly worked for a Kuwaiti daily newspaper and a television channel.

Two other expatriates were told they could no longer be allowed to stay in the country and would have to leave within one month, Kuwaiti daily Al Rai reported on Thursday.

A source said that the state security agency has drawn up lists of people who would not be allowed to enter the country over their links to Hezbollah.

The source said that one list included Arab nationalities, mainly Syrians and Lebanese, while the other list had the names of Gulf citizens.

“All the people on the lists were proven to have supported the Hezbollah militia financially, politically or through the media. They include media people and businessmen and have had contacts with Hezbollah or their representatives," the source said.

“The legal procedures to deport those in the country or to ban their re-entry if they are abroad are being implemented in a way that takes into consideration the security of Kuwait and the interest of the foreigners.”

The measures include banning the suspects from re-entering the country, not renewing their residency permits or summoning them to inform them they had to leave Kuwait within one month.

Interior Minister Shaikh Mohammad Al Khalid has reportedly given the security agency full powers to implement the procedures and to reject all pleas, regardless of their sources, to pardon the suspects, explaining that the security of Kuwait was a red line not to be crossed.

In Bahrain, the authorities said they arrested the owner of a shop and the Asian shopkeeper for selling Hezbollah-related images. 

The General Director of the Capital Police said an investigation was launched after the police received tips about the shop’s illegal activities.

The two individuals were arrested and a large number of images were confiscated as legal procedures were taken and the case was referred to the Public Prosecution.

The General Director warned that legal action would be taken against organisations or individuals with links to Hezbollah.

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

Hezbollah militias and their leaders, factions and groups were this month classified as a terrorist group by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League.

The GCC is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Bahrain on Monday said it deported foreigners with proven links or support to the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, and said that the decision was based on its commitment to fight terrorism financing and money laundering.

The interior ministry said that people should be aware of the law that penalises cooperation with or spying for a terrorist group.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia has warned of severe punishment for anyone who sympathised in any way with Hezbollah.

The interior ministry warned it would deport foreigners who showed any form of support for the group.

“The Ministry of Interior stresses that any citizen or resident who endorses or shows affiliation to the so-called 'Hezbollah', or sympathises with it, promotes it, offers donations to it, communicates with it or harbours any sympathiser would be severely punished under several laws, including the anti-terror laws. Any foreigner will also be deported,” the ministry said in a statement.