Bahrainis Regard Sheikh Qassim as Red Line: Political Activist


Bahrainis Regard Sheikh Qassim as Red Line: Political Activist

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Bahraini political activist warned the Al Khalifa regime against the consequences of any move against prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim, saying that the people of the Persian Gulf country regard the cleric as “a red line”.

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Yousef Al-Houri pointed to the Manama regime’s decision to put Sheikh Qassim on trial, saying that people of the Arab country will react to any disrespect to the cleric.

“The Bahrain nation has explicitly declared that Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim is a red line and Bahrain is meaningless without the cleric,” he noted.

The activist added that Sheikh Qassim not only is the most prominent Shiite figure in Bahrain, but has played a major role in preventing crises in the country.

Sheikh Qassim’s planned trial was adjourned until August 14 after the prominent figure did not appear in court on Wednesday.

His trial was shelved after the cleric refused to attend court for allegedly money laundering, according to Bahrain’s prosecutor general.

He said the court had already issued a subpoena, but the cleric’s son refused to receive it.

Representative of Sheikh Qassim had already announced that the top cleric would definitely refuse to attend the Wednesday hearing.

The Al Khalifa regime announced on June 20 that the citizenship of Sheikh Qassim has been revoked, accusing him of sowing sectarian divisions.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.

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