Bahraini Opposition Group Raps Sheikh Qassim’s Verdict as “Unfair, Illegal”
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Bahrain’s February 14 Youth Coalition, a major opposition group, condemned the Al Khalifa regime for sentencing Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of the country’s Shiite majority, to one year in prison, denouncing the ruling as “unfair and illegal”.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the February 14 Youth Coalition said targeting Sheikh Qassim and his trial is tantamount to targeting and trying Shiites.
“The sentence issued against Sheikh Qassim is unacceptable and illegal,” the statement said.
“We, along with the people of our country will fight against the unfair verdict through adopting intensified protest approaches until the regime realizes what crime it has committed against (the people’s) religion and beliefs,” the coalition said.
A Bahraini court, in a politically motivated move on Sunday, announced the verdict against Sheikh Qassim, sentencing him to one year in prison.
According to the Verdict, Sheikh Qassim’s properties worth three million Bahraini dinars (near $8 million) have been confiscated. The cleric was also sentenced to pay a fine of 1,000 Bahraini dinars (about $2,650).
According to local reports, Sheikh Qassim’s prison sentence has been suspended for three years.
The verdict came several hours after Bahraini people from all walks of life staged anti-regime protests in various cities across the Persian Gulf country to voice their support for Sheikh Qassim.
During the rallies, the Bahraini citizens once again underlined that they would defend the prominent cleric to death.
