Bahraini Cleric’s Citizenship Revocation Draws Sharp Reaction by Iran’s General Soleimani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani warned the Al Khalifa regime of the dire consequences of its decision to strip top Shiite cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim of his Bahraini citizenship.
In a statement on Monday evening, the senior IRGC general gave a stern warning against the Bahraini rulers’ continued crackdown on peaceful public protests in the Persian Gulf country and its recent offense against Sheikh Isa Qassim.
He deplored the Manama regime for its policy of oppression, discrimination, injustice, humiliation, violent crackdown, and inhumane conducts against people of Bahrain for years.
Major General Soleimani noted that the Al Khalifa regime’s rudeness has reached such a degree that it ignores people’s decency and peaceful moves, and continues to intensify its crimes against and pressures on the nation with the muted response from the United Nations, the US and Western countries.
“The Al Khalifa seems to have abused people’s peaceful moves and lack an accurate assessment of the public wrath,” he added.
The general then described disrespect for Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim as a “red line” that, when crosses, will “spark flames of fire in Bahrain and across the whole region, leaving people with no choice but armed resistance.”
General Soleimani finally reminded the Manama regime that it will “definitely pay the price” for its measures and will have to face downfall.
Supporters of Al Khalifa should know that the offense against Sheikh Qassim and continuation of pressure on the Bahraini people will trigger a “bloody Intifada”, and those legitimizing the Bahraini rulers will be held accountable for its consequences, the top commander cautioned.