Bahrainis Continue Anti-Regime Rallies in Support of Sheikh Qassim (+Photos)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Bahraini people, once again, poured into the streets in various cities of the Arab country to express their solidarity with Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of the country’s Shiite majority.
Hundreds of people staged the demonstrations on Thursday night in various cities and villages, including Diraz, the hometown of Sheikh Qassim located west of Manama, local reports said on Friday.
During the peaceful rallies, protesters condemned the ruling Al Khalifa regime for attacking the house of Sheikh Qassim.
In similar rallies on Wednesday night, the protesters marched their way to the suburbs of Manama despite the regime’s warning against holding more public gatherings. The peaceful protests turned ugly after regime forces fired tear gas at the demonstrators.
The Bahraini Interior Ministry issued the warning a day after police stormed into the home of Sheikh Qassim, prompting clashes with the cleric’s supporters. During the raid on Monday, regime forces shot dead at least six demonstrators, wounded dozens and arrested over 280 people.
The latest developments came after a Bahraini court on Sunday sentenced Sheikh Qassim to one year in prison. Based on the verdict, the cleric’s properties worth three million Bahraini dinars (near $8 million) have been also confiscated. Moreover, Sheikh Qassim has been sentenced to pay a fine of 1,000 Bahraini dinars (about $2,650).
Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with security forces resorting to harsh measures against demonstrators.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful protests.
