RNA - "Bahrain is busy with its internal problems and has not been able to overcome them. Given the fact that it lacks the capability to resolve its internal problems and is influenced by certain regional states, it relies on them financially and listens to their advice more, and it seems that it has been entangled in a vicious circle and tries to find a hypothetical enemy for itself and blame it for its problems; therefore, it sometimes shows some behaviors and moves and utters certain words which is considered as a type of aggression against Iran and it is not aware of the consequences and its deep mistake," Qassemi told FNA on Sunday.
He advised the Bahraini officials to adopt a realistic view towards their internal problems and their big neighbors like Iran and show constructive and wise behavior towards them.
Since February 14, 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis, calling on the al-Khalifa rulers to relinquish power.
In March that year, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, themselves repressive Arab regimes, were deployed to the country to assist Manama in its crackdown on protests. Hundreds of Bahraini activists have been imprisoned and suppressed.
On June 20, Bahraini authorities stripped Sheikh Qassim of his citizenship, less than a week after suspending the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, the country’s main opposition bloc, and dissolving the Islamic Enlightenment Institution founded by Qassim, and the opposition al-Risala Islamic Association.
Over the past few weeks, demonstrators have held sit-in protests outside Sheikh Qassim’s home to denounce his citizenship removal.
Bahrain has also sentenced Sheikh Ali Salman, another revered opposition cleric, to nine years in prison on charges of seeking regime change and collaborating with foreign powers, which he has denied.
Sheikh Salman was the secretary general of the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, which was Bahrain’s main opposition bloc before being dissolved by the regime.
847/940