Human Rights Watch slams destabilizing violence in Bahrain

The Human Rights Watch has condemned the brutal violence by the Bahraini regime forces against protesters in a northwestern village as a crackdown on freedom of expression.

"Yet again the architects of bloody destabilizing violence in Bahrain appear to be the Al Khalifah government, and the timing of this operation - two days after [Bahraini] King Hamad's [bin Isa Al Khalifah] convivial meeting with [US] President [Donald] Trump - can hardly be a coincidence," the group said in a statement on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Bahraini regime forces stormed into the residence of Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of the country’s Shia majority in the village of Dirza, arresting everyone inside the house. It is not yet clear whether Sheikh Qassim himself is among the detainees.

There have been reports of security forces firing birdshot at protesters and teargas into the house of the prominent cleric.

Sources have confirmed at least two fatalities. Seven others are said to be in critical condition.

Diraz is the native village of Sheikh Isa Qassim. It has been the scene of protests since last June, when the authorities stripped the cleric of his citizenship over accusations that he used his position to serve foreign interests and promote “sectarianism” and “violence.” He has denied the allegations.

Following the brutal operations, Bahraini clerics called for mass nationwide protests.

'Bahraini regime responsible for any harm to Sheikh Qassim'

Meanwhile, the head of scholar’s assembly of Lebanon, Sheikh Ahmed Alzain, condemned the Bahraini forces' acts of violence in Diraz and said the Manama regime and King Hamad are responsible for any possible harm to Sheikh Qassim.

He added that the rulings against Sheikh Qassim and other leaders of Bahraini opposition have no value.

The cleric emphasized that the dangerous operations in Diraz were an outcome of a recent so-called Arab-Islamic American Summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Alzain said the survival of the Al Khalifah regime depends on the Bahraini people's will and not the backing of foreign forces.

He warned that the peaceful protests of the Bahraini people would take another form if their religious leaders are exposed to danger.

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