Bahrainis continue supporting Sheikh Issa Qassim

Rasa - Bahraini demonstrators have gathered in front of the residence of senior Shia cleric Sheikh Issa Qassim in the village of Diraz for the 150th day despite severe security measures.

News ID: 425169

Date: 19 November 2016 - 20:32

RNA - The Bahrain Mirror news site reported on Saturday that supporters of the cleric held the 150-day strike action to show solidarity with Sheikh Qassim.

On June 20, regime officials stripped the 79-year-old cleric of his citizenship.

The demonstrators said they would continue supporting the cleric, whose trial has been postponed five times since he has refused to appear in court due to his frail condition.

“We will stand by our cleric until our final breath,” read a banner held by the demonstrators.

Demonstrators in Bahrain want the Al Khalifah rulers to give back the cleric’s citizenship.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country on February 14, 2011.

Scores of people have been killed and hundreds more, including notable opposition figures, have been put behind bars.

The Bahraini protesters demand that the Al Khalifah monarchy relinquish power.

The United States and Britain, which have military bases in the tiny yet strategic Persian Gulf kingdom, have been an all-out supporter of the Manama regime.

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