Hujjat al-Islam al-Masha’al:

'Bahraini Shi’as facing the greatest contemporary plot'

Rasa – The head of the Islamic Scholars Council of Bahrain warned the Al Khalifah regime that Shi’a people of Bahrain will defend themselves and their religion despite their extensive attacks against them by regime forces.

News ID: 422563

Date: 20 July 2016 - 18:18

RNA – Hujjat al-Islam Sayyid Majid al-Masha’al, the head of the Islamic Scholars Council of Bahrain, spoke at a gathering of protestors outside the residence of the country’s most prominent Shi’a leader, Shaykh Isa Qasim, in the village of Diraz near the capital Manama, saying: “We are standing against the largest contemporary conspiracy that after revoking the citizenship of Ayatollah Shaykh Isa Qasim, all the people of Bahrain are at risk of having their citizenships revoked and expelled from Bahrain as well,” Bahrain Mirror e-newspaper reported.

The country’s ruling Al Khalifah monarchy stripped Shaykh Qasim of his citizenship on June 20. Less than a week earlier, they had suspended al-Wefaq and dissolved the opposition al-Risalah Islamic Association and Islamic Enlightenment Institution, founded by Shaykh Qasim.

He described this act as a great injustice and violation and added that Bahraini Shi’as are rooted in the country and they will defend themselves and will not compromise their religious principles because the country’s constitution and international treaties do not allow their citizenship to be revoked.

Hujjat al-Islam al-Masha’al stated that defending one’s religious and political rights is also a legitimate right and added that Shi’as across the country and in different positions have been attacked.

He added that the targeting of religious principles, leaders and officials of religious, cultural and political organizations and followers of the Shi’a school of thought represents a major attack against Shi’a Muslims in the tiny Persian Gulf country.

The Bahraini cleric added that Shi’as must take an appropriate position in the face of these attacks and demonstrate the peak of vigilance, responsibility, loyalty and stability. “We do not seek conflict, but rather we also defend ourselves and our sanctities,” he stressed.

Hujjat al-Islam al-Masha’al that the protestors do not seek material or worldly gains but rather, they only seek to perform their religious duties. “Although we are oppressed, we have a lot of power to seek the truth and justice,” he said.

Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has seen a wave of anti-regime protests since mid-February 2011.

The Al Khalifah regime is engaged in a harsh crackdown on dissent and widespread discrimination against the country’s Shi’a majority. Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in the country.

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