The fight against the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is the number one concern in all countries, and all world leaders have declared that the frontliners protecting humanity are doctors and nurses, except for the King of Bahrain.

There is no more need to convince anyone of the Bahraini ruling family's discriminatory behavior towards the Shiite community, as the suffering of stranded Bahraini citizens in the Iranian city of Mashhad, who amount to more than 1,000, has caused a major scandal.

Since a week ago, Bahrainis have been witnessing a gradual rise in the prices of fruits and vegetables, and in some cases they increased 10 times more than normal prices.

Bahrainis are outraged at Gulf Air which cancelled its flight GF563 and refrained from transporting Bahrainis returning from the Iranian city of Mashhad. This was especially frustrating to Bahrainis since the airline admitted that it took the decision on March 27, 2020 to cancel the scheduled flight from Muscat Airport after it was revealed that there were a large number of registered passengers arriving from Iran via Doha Airport.

Gulf Air has admitted that it cancelled its GF563 flight because of the Bahraini passengers returning from the Iranian city of Mashhad. It said that it made the decision on Friday (March 27, 2020) to cancel one of its scheduled flights from Muscat Airport after it was revealed that there was a large number of registered passengers arriving from Iran via Doha Airport.

76 of the Bahrainis stranded in Mashhad left for Tehran, then to Doha and Muscat, on their way back to Bahrain. At 11:20 a.m. and in front of the gate for boarding the plane, passengers were surprised that the flight was delayed. After 45 minutes, they were told that the flight had been cancelled without explanation.

Bahrain is sinking deeper into a very difficult economic situation day after another. Since the beginning of this year, the Institute of International Finance (IIF) has said that Bahrain is in danger after its public debt exceeded 13 billion of the GDP, with a public debt amounting to 100.19% of GDP.

The global coronavirus epidemic, particularly ravaging in Europe, seems to have unexpected impacts. Bahrain received a heavy blow yesterday, with the Italian energy group ENI announcing that it will review its projects in the Middle East due to the Coronavirus pandemic and falling oil prices.

What is this extreme disregard for Bahraini citizens stranded in Iran's Mashhad? What is this absurd and irresponsible play with people's emotions and feelings? For the third consecutive time, Bahraini officials have announced a planned flight for a second batch of stranded visitors, but canceled it at the last minute.

Four months after his absence (November 21, 2019-March 20, 2020) for treatment in Germany, Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa returned to Bahrain.

Despite the campaigns launched by families of Bahrainis stranded in Iran, which were joined by dozens of activists, the government of Bahrain doesn't seem to be concerned about bringing them back. It has become clear that every time it uses excuses to keep the citizens suffering there without letting them know why.

Police vehicles didn't leave her front door ever since the 1980s until February 14, 2011. There has always been a reason making this house a target to be destroyed. The reason has always been political. Mariam Tarif hasn't relaxed for over 30 years. Despite this, she hasn't surrendered. She is now more than 70 years old. Her sons and grandsons have been imprisoned. She is now bound to a wheelchair, her bones have become weak but her head still remains held high.

What options can the government offer to deal with the financial crisis it is facing with the Coronavirus epidemic? "Frankly, the only solution is that senior royal family members help the country's finances," a financial analyst told Bahrain Mirror.

In the past two days, the Bahraini authorities have released nearly 115 political prisoners, according to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, while Al-Wafaa Islamic Movement said it recorded the release of about 155 political prisoners between March 10 and 15.

Bahraini Rida Bin Ali launched a campaign on behalf of the Committee of Families of Stranded Bahrainis in Iran and elsewhere under a hashtag that translates to #Bring_Back_Stranded_Bahrainis. This move aims at "bringing back Bahrainis trapped in Iran's city of Mashhad, guaranteeing them a medical quarantine, and countering any voices that attack their beliefs or stand in the way of their return," he said.

Some groups held in the isolation unit complained that, after completing a full two weeks, they were obliged to stay for an additional two weeks after a new case of coronavirus was discovered.

The first batch of Bahrainis, who were stranded in Iran after the spread of Coronavirus there, has landed in Bahrain, and more are expected to return. However, three Bahraini families will not get to be reunited with their loved ones who died while waiting for the Government of Bahrain to take action, as it delayed returning its citizens home.

165 Bahrainis out of more than 1,300 landed in Bahrain, returning from the Iranian city of Mashhad. This is the first batch of stranded Bahrainis who were evacuated, through direct flights via Oman Peace Air.

People who share the same ordeal usually become united, as the ordeal brings them closer to one another. This is how Bahrainis trapped in Iran are living these days. They are showing many beautiful scenes of unity, care, empathy and mutual support.

In parallel with efforts to combat the Coronavirus in Bahrain, the government is not making concrete efforts to combat the effects of the terrifying virus on the economy.