Regime forces attack top cleric's supporters in NW Bahrain
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 Shia Muslim cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, who was stripped of his citizenship by the Al Khalifah regime earlier this week.
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.
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.
Since February 14, 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations on an almost daily basis in Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifah family to relinquish power.
In March that year, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protests.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in the Bahraini crackdown on the anti-regime activists.
FM strongly condemns meddlesome EU-GCC statement against Iran
US approves $2.25 billion in new arms sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE
Bahrain loses bid to block legal action by dissidents in UK
48-year-old Palestinian man serving 48 life terms completes 22 years in Israeli jails
From MKO to Tondar, how Germany became safe haven for anti-Iran terror groups
Hamas open to any proposal aiming to end Gaza war: Hamdan
Role of private sector in Iran’s thriving space industry
Four Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on West Bank
Iran warns of ‘calculated, precise’ response to Israeli aggression
After year-long genocide, Israeli military hires private firms to flatten buildings in Gaza
Malaysia working on resolution to expel Israel from United Nations
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
