Iranian MP: Sheikh Salman’s Continued Detention to Cost Manama Dearly
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Iranian lawmaker warned about the consequences of the continued imprisonment of the secretary general of Bahrain’s main opposition party al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Sheikh Ali Salman, saying that the move will cost Al Khalifa regime dearly.
“We hope that the Bahraini regime will immediately release Sheikh Ali Salman and, if not, the protesters will spare no effort to free the revolutionary cleric,” Rapporteur of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign policy Commission Seyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini told the Tasnim News Agency on Monday.
“The move (arresting the opposition leader), is a clear violation of human rights, which should not be hidden from the eyes of free nations,” he said.
The Iranian parliamentarian also voiced Tehran’s support for the Bahraini people, and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran sides with the oppressed people of Bahrain and will definitely pursue the issue of arresting Bahraini regime’s critics in the international circles.”
The remarks came as Bahraini security forces last night fired tear gas to suppress protesters outraged by the arrest of Sheikh Salman.
Al Khalifa authorities detained Sheikh Salman Sunday after long hours of investigations in criminal investigations building.
Sheikh Salman’s lawyer has asserted that his client is charged with “provoking hatred for the ruling regime and attending illegal demonstrations”.
Following the massive anti-regime protests held on Friday, Bahrain's Interior Ministry had ordered Salman to appear before police investigators on Sunday without providing any explanation as to why the summons was issued.