Iranian Adviser Warns of Consequences of Bahraini Cleric’s Trial
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A special aide to Iran’s parliament speaker cautioned the Manama government against the consequences of insistence on court action against Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s Shiite majority whose nationality has been revoked by the Al Khalifa regime.
Iran is aware of the pressure that Saudi Arabia exerts on Bahrain, Director General of International Affairs at the Iranian Parliament Hossein Amir Abdollahian said, but recommended the Manama rulers not be deceived by Riyadh.
The Bahraini government needs to realize the dire consequences of not halting the trial of Sheikh Qassim, the Iranian official added.
Amir Abdollahian then explained that Sheikh Qassim does not belong to the Bahraini nation alone, but is a popular cleric in the entire Muslim world.
Back in August, Iranian lawmakers released a statement in condemnation of punitive measures by the Manama regime against Sheikh Qassim, saying that such “unwise” steps violate human and civil rights as well as freedom of religion.
The Al Khalifa regime announced on June 20 that the citizenship of Sheikh Qassim has been revoked, accusing him of sowing sectarian divisions.
The regime later said it would put the senior cleric on trial on charges of “illegal fund collections, money laundering and helping terrorism.”
But Sheikh Qassim has not appeared in any of the court sessions in the past weeks.
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.