RNA – Bahrain’s people will keep supporting Ayatollah Qasim, Hujjat al-Islam Abdullah al-Daqqaq, Ayatollah Qasim’s representative in Iran underlined on Saturday, addressing a press conference via videoconference.
He explained that Bahrainis are still participating in a sit-in protest outside the residence of Ayatollah Qasim in the northwestern village of Diraz 47 days after revocation of the top cleric’s citizenship, though the area is surrounded by the security forces, barriers and barbed wire fences.
“The demonstrators insist that they will never allow the authorities to make any offensive move against Ayatollah Qasim, saying the regime forces will have to encounter the protesters before getting access to the cleric,” Hujjat al-Islam al-Daqqaq added.
Back in June, the Manama regime said the citizenship of Ayatollah Qasim has been revoked, accusing him of sowing sectarian divisions.
The move drew widespread criticism worldwide.
Later in July, Ayatollah Qasim’s planned trial was adjourned after the prominent figure did not appear in court.
Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the Al Khalifah 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.
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