Bahrain's Regime Forces Attack Shiite Cleric's Supporters
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Bahraini regime forces have fired birdshots and tear gas to disperse dozens of demonstrators, who had taken to the streets in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom to express solidarity with prominent Shiite cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, who was stripped of his citizenship.
On Thursday evening, protesters gathered outside the home of the 79-year-old spiritual leader of Bahrain’s main opposition bloc, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, in the northwestern village of Diraz, situated about 12 kilometers (seven miles) west of the capital Manama, to express their outrage at the measure against the top clergyman.
They chanted slogans in support of Sheikh Qassim and in condemnation of the ruling dynasty.
Clashes broke out when regime forces intervened, firing shots and using tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protesters responded by throwing petrol bombs at police vehicles.
The development came a day after similar demonstrations were held in Bilad al-Qadim, a suburb of the capital, Press TV reported.
The Al Khalifah regime’s June 20 move against Sheikh Qassim came less than a week after Bahrain's Justice Ministry suspended al-Wefaq and dissolved opposition Islamic Enlightenment Institution and al-Risala Islamic Association.