Bahrain Top Cleric: Opponents of Serious Dialogue for Justice Are Criminals

Rasa - Bahrain’s Shia leader Ayatollah Sheikh Issa Qassem said those who close the doors to serious and constructive dialogue for spreading justice are criminals.

News ID: 779

Date: 13 April 2014 - 16:35

Rasa News Agency reports - Delivering Friday prayers at Manama’s Imam Sadeq (AS) Mosque on April 11, he said dialogue is the language of Islam, Al-A’ahd website reported.

He said those powers that use weapons have no faith in dialogue and do not turn to dialogue unless after defeat.

He was referring to the Bahraini regime that has been repressing protests in the country.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have held numerous demonstrations on the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.

Ayatollah Qassem called on the Bahraini government to prepare the ground for practical and serious dialogue (between the protestors and the government).

He added, however, that it is unlikely for a regime that only believes in applying force and violence to listen to the voice of wisdom and religion.

ABNA