Former Iranian Diplomat Raps Bahrain for Revocation of Top Cleric’s Citizenship
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A former high-ranking Iranian diplomat condemned the Bahraini regime for stripping citizenship from the spiritual leader of the kingdom’s Shiite Muslim majority, saying the move is a result of secret ties between Manama and Tel Aviv.
“The move by Bahrain's King (Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa) to sign the order to revoke the nationality of one of the most noble citizens of Bahrain (Sheikh Isa Qassim) will undoubtedly make the country enter a new phase of the internal crisis… which will increase the gap between the people and the regime,” former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Sunday.
“It seems that such decisions are part of the results of the Bahraini rulers’ dependence on aliens,” he said, adding that the move also has its roots in the secret relations between Manama and the Zionist regime of Israel.
In conclusion, Amir Abdollahian emphasized that the Al Khalifa regime should be aware that the sole solution to the Arab country’s problems is a political one and that oppression cannot help end the ongoing crisis.
Bahrain announced on June 20 that the citizenship of Sheikh Qassim has been revoked, accusing him of sowing sectarian divisions.
Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.
Amnesty International and many other international rights organizations have frequently censured the Bahraini regime for the rampant human rights abuses against opposition groups and anti-regime protesters.
