Bahraini Clerics Urge People to Break Regime’s Siege of Diraz Region
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Bahraini clerics denounced the Al Khalifa regime’s continued siege of Diraz, the hometown of Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of the Persian Gulf country’s Shiite majority, as “cruel” and called on the people to break the siege.
In a statement issued on Friday, the clerics condemned the Manama regime for recent killings of dissidents and said the Al Khalifa has killed the people in Diraz through collusion with the US, Britain and some regional countries.
They added that all of the said governments are held accountable for shedding the blood of the innocent people in Bahrain.
The statement also condemned the continued blockade on Diraz and urged the Bahraini People to break the “cruel” siege through unified peaceful activities.
Last week, Bahraini regime forces stormed into the residence of Sheikh Qassim in the village of Diraz, arresting everyone inside the house.
Reports suggest that the Bahrain top cleric is now under house arrest.
At least six people were reportedly killed in the raid, and over 280 others were arrested.
The raid came a few days after a Bahraini court sentenced Sheikh Qassim to one year in prison. Based on the verdict, the cleric’s properties worth three million Bahraini dinars (near $8 million) were also confiscated. Moreover, Sheikh Qassim was sentenced to pay a fine of 100,000 Bahraini dinars (about $265,000).
Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with security forces resorting to harsh measures against demonstrators.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful protests.
