Ayatollah Ramezani-Gilani:

Trial of Ayatollah Qasim to cause serious tensions in Bahrain

Rasa – The head of the Islamic-European Union of Shi’a Scholars and Theologians warned the Bahraini regime against the consequences of putting prominent Shi’a cleric Ayatollah Isa Qasim on trial, saying the move will cause serious tensions in the Persian Gulf country.

News ID: 422607

Date: 26 July 2016 - 20:22

RNA – Speaking to the media, Ayatollah Reza Ramezani-Gilani pointed to the possibility that Ayatollah Isa Qasim, the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s Shi’a majority, would be put on trial soon, saying that the people of the Arab country back the cleric and oppose the trial.

The possible move by the Bahraini regime will expedite the collapse of the Al Khalifah regime, said the cleric, who is also the Friday prayers leader of the Islamic Centre of Hamburg.

He further emphasized that those who follow the developments in Bahrain are aware that Ayatollah Qasim not only has never fanned the flames of divisions in the country but also has played a major role in keeping the popular protests peaceful.

Ayatollah Qasim will reportedly go on trial in August for alleged “money laundering” amid simmering tensions after the Manama regime decided to revoke his nationality.

The regime announced on June 20 that the citizenship of Ayatollah Qasim has been revoked, accusing him of sowing sectarian divisions.

Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifah dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.

Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.

Amnesty International and many other international rights organizations have frequently censured the Bahraini regime for the rampant human rights abuses against opposition groups and anti-regime protesters.

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