February 14 Youth Coalition: Saudi Arabia Undermining Bahrain's Security
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Bahrain's February 14 Youth Coalition, a major opposition group, decried the Saudi regime's continued interference in the internal affairs of the Persian Gulf country, saying that it is Riyadh that causes instability in Bahrain, not Tehran.
Saudi forces employ violence in the crackdown on the Bahraini people, who are demanding their legitimate and legal rights concerning self-determination, it said in a statement.
"It is the Saudi regime that disturbs Bahrain's security and stability not Iran," the coalition was quoted by the Arabic-language Al Alam TV network as saying.
The statement further emphasized that Iran has a firm policy of defending the oppressed people around the world.
The remarks came after Bahraini Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa on July 23 accused Iran of creating insecurity in Bahrain.
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.
Troops from Saudi Arabia have been also deployed to Bahrain to assist in its crackdown on the peaceful protesters.