Revocation of Sheikh Qassim’s Citizenship Has No Legal Basis: Activist
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Ali Mushaima, a London-based Bahraini activist, condemned the Manama regime for revoking the citizenship of top Shiite cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim, stressing that there was no legal basis for the move.
The Bahraini regime’s recent decision to strip Sheikh Qassim of his citizenship has “no legal basis” and will ignite sectarian war in the Persian Gulf kingdom, Mushaima told the Tasnim News Agency.
He added Bahrain’s political parties, this time, are united more than any other time in the country’s history and this solidarity sends a “strong” message to the ruling regime.
Referring to the role of foreign hands and external parties in pushing the Manama regime to make the move against Sheikh Qassim, Mushaima said the decision was taken with the full knowledge and support of Riyadh, Washington and London.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the activist said the popular uprising in the Arab country will remain peaceful, adding that it is not clear what might the future hold as the regime is continuing to attack the nation’s sanctities.
Bahrain announced on Monday that the citizenship of Sheikh Qassim has been revoked, accusing him of sowing sectarian divisions.
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.
Amnesty International and many other international rights organizations have frequently censured the Bahraini regime for the rampant human rights abuses against opposition groups and anti-regime protesters.
